California Trace

Another horse feed post! I LOVE getting feedback and opinions on feed, supplements, etc. so comment (or email me) away!

A few weeks ago I talked about adding FastTrack probiotic supplement to see if that helps with Hemie's weight. I'm a firm believer in the change-only-one-thing-at-a-time approach, so I won't be doing anything else at this point with the express goal of increasing his weight. Fabulous readers suggested upping the hay, which I've been meditating on quite a bit. 

However, another feed topic I've been thinking about off and on is Selenium & Vitamin E.  I've researched these occasionally over the last 2 years or so. Mel of Boots and Saddles has had a few posts on it (which I've read and re-read several times). These nutrients are important for all sorts of bodily functions, including fighting free radicals and supporting muscles. At Hemie's post-purchase exam, when I asked about neurological testing, my vet mentioned that our area's hay is very low in Selenium and Vitamin E, which are necessary to for neurological support, and that feed-through supplements would be a good option for us to consider.

Well, that did it. I decided to get serious about adding these to Hemie's diet. I decided to go with a product that has been personally recommended to me by a local eventer whose horse happens to go barefoot. She said that she could see her horse's hooves grow out more healthy when she added the supplement, and even saw the hooves grow out less-healthy-looking when she ran out for a month or two due to a mix-up with her supplier. I really like having results you can actually see so you can know that they're being absorbed.

http://www.californiatrace.com/

The product is called California Trace and it is a trace mineral supplement for horses, specifically formulated to supplement minerals lacking in west coast hay. It has vit E, selenium, and several other minerals lacking in west coast hay and grass.

I ordered the 25 lb bag of pellets for $100, which they shipped to my house for *free*.  According to the website, that should amount to $0.50 per day.

25 lb bag of pellets

2 scoops per day for a 1,000 lb horse

Saddlebreds as Sport Horses - Part II

Does anyone else have posts that have been sitting in their drafts folder for months or even a year+? Ones that are dallied with regularly but never seem to get to the point where they are ready for the big orange PUBLISH button?

Or am I just weird like that?

In any case, the topic of Saddlebreds as Sport Horses is one that I think on regularly, even if I re-type drafts over and over instead of just posting on the topic.

To follow up a much previous post discussing the American Saddlebred as a breed under-represented in sport horse disciplines, I wanted to take a moment to shine the light on some people who are actively promoting ASBs in disciplines other than saddleseat here in my neck of the woods.

Firstly, Lisa Marie Bauman of Austin Eventing who moved to Malibu earlier this year, though she will soon be returning to Texas. She and her horse Arvo are competing at Training level. Arvo is the only full ASB who has been actively competing here in Area VI eventing this year. Hopefully I'll meet them before they go! Here's their cross-country video from Galway Downs in May:

Next is Lisa Davies Siderman of Deer Creek Ranch in Malibu. She has long been a proponent of Saddlebreds in non-saddleseat disciplines. I met her several years ago at Equine Affaire in Pomona and recall being slightly shocked that she did endurance on her ASBs (I was still a saddleseater at the time). But she is putting into action what others (including myself) do just in ideas/support: actively breeding and competing ASBs in sport horse disciplines. She also helps manage the official ASB sport-horse committee. Here's one of her lovely horses, Havana Love Aphair, competing at the El Sueno derby in May:

Additionally there's a local gal who competes in eventing with an Oldenburg/Saddlebred cross, and I always am rooting for them at shows. But I get the impression that they downplay the saddlebred part, especially when he was for sale a few months back. I assume that's because European warmbloods are much more en vogue in eventing sales right now and ASBs still carry stigma out here. To he honest, if I'd had the $8k, I'd have snatched him up! He's a very handsome boy and quite suitable for my modest competitive aspirations.

I'm always on the look-out for people doing sport-horse disciplines with saddlebreds or saddlebred-crosses, especially those here on the West Coast where ASBs are not as common as they are back east. Admittedly I'm much more "in the know" with eventing than I am with endurance, dressage, reining, combined driving, or any other sport horse discipline - but I wholeheartedly support ASBs doing those as well! If you know of any ASBs or crosses competing in non-saddleseat, let me know!

For others who are interested in this topic, here are Facebook groups/pages for you to consider joining:
American Saddlebred and Half-ASB Sporthorses
American Saddlebreds and Crosses Sport Horse Group

My next post (eventually...one day...) on the topic will discuss ASB saddleseat retraining programs and adoption/purchase opportunities as compared to those for off-the-track Thoroughbreds (OTTB). And then another post (just maybe...) will be about emerging cross breeding phenomenon and its connection to sport horse suitability.

Or maybe I'll just keep plugging away at these posts forever.  =P

Track My Hack

(Track My Hack is actually the name of an iPhone app from WoofWear that lets you track info about your rides. I downloaded it some months ago but still haven't remembered to turn it on before trail rides. It's free, so you might as well try it. =P)

Over the last few weeks the weather has been spectacular and I've been making it a priority to go on a trail ride at least every other week. Unfortunately we have to ride on the shoulder of a busy road for a short stretch to get to the trail area. Luckily Tynan and her lovely mare Roxy are game to go with us and help lead the way through some trouble areas (although Hemie is surprisingly good).

Some photos from ~2 weeks ago...

Ronald Reagan Library at the top of the hill.

Tynan aboard Roxie.

Hemie's crazy mane that likes to be on both sides. teehee.

And from this past week...

Dead snake in bottom right. And yes, Tynan is riding bareback. Next to a busy road.

And did I mention that Tynan rides sans bridle or halter? Even on trail rides!

Random selfie of me and the pony! Yes, I wear my helmet and both safety vests when on trail.

Spectator --> Competitor

This weekend was awesome.

Karen of Bakersfield Dressage came to my neck of the woods for a Dr. Christian Schacht clinic (click here to read my recap from his clinic back in January). She hung out while Hemie and I played over a few jumps, then she bravely got on and Hemie was a good sport and tootled around. Then we enjoyed some delish sushi!

Random weird thing that I'd love some opinions on. So we are at sushi and a waitress notices my half-chaps and boots and strikes up a friendly horsey conversation. Long story short, she just got her equine masseuse certification and is looking to establish her clientele and is willing to give great pricing. I got her name and number. So here's the question: would you be willing to let a newly certified equine masseuse work on your horse? On the one hand I like the idea of massage therapy, and it being affordable - but on the other hand, could she hurt Hemie on accident since she is inexperienced? Would I be able to tell if he doesn't like it? Opinions welcome!

Saturday I went with J.D. up to the lovely Shepherd Ranch at Santa Ynez to watch cross-country day of their June horse trails. It was a picture perfect day. Sunny and warm but breezy.

Upper water complex

We watched some excellent rounds, and also some nail-biting ones. It was nice to socialize and network and cheer on fellow riders. Laurie had a rider there and she rocked the Novice course like she does this every weekend, when in fact it has been over a year (maybe several years) since she's done eventing.  Its always good when riders your coach trains have safe and fun rounds.

Training level bench jump

I walked the Intro level course and felt it would be doable. In fact I also walked the BN level course and thought that looked doable too. Maybe a few of the Novice questions too. =]  I seriously am feeling so inspired and excited for our July 13th schooling and to sign up for Shepherd's August HT. I am just so ready to go from spectator to competitor. I'm feeling impatient in the good kinda way.

Lower water complex

 Another great thing about going here is realizing just how many different eventing trainers and barns we have in Southern California. I love Laurie and hope to be her client for the long haul, but its also good to know that there are lots of other trainers out there to clinic with. Simply paying attention at these events will tell you which ones are good and which ones are questionable...

Lovely Santa Ynez backdrop

Sleepy Pony Cuteness

Hemie loves to nap in the sunshine. I love showing up and finding him dozing.

Liebster Love

My heart is very deeply warmed to be the recipient of the Liebster Blog Award. My sincere gratitude to to Karley of All In, Hillary of Equestrian at Hart, Emmi of My Life on Horses, Hawk of Forging Fiction, Niamh of Life of Riley and Karen of Bakersfield Dressage! Thank you very much for reading and for the nomination!

Interestingly, I was awarded the Liebster Blog Award back in January 2012...and it appears that the protocols have significantly changed since then. The facts & questions part is new...you choose 11 blogs instead of 5... I chalk this up to the blogosphere's version of the game of telephone.

How to accept the award:
The Liebster Blog Award is a way to recognize blogs who have less than 200 followers. Liebster is a German word that means beloved and valued. Here are the rules for accepting the award:

1. Thank the person who nominated you and include a link back to their blog.
2. List 11 random facts about yourself.
3. Answer the 11 questions given to you.
4. Create 11 questions for the bloggers you nominate.
5. Choose 11 bloggers with fewer than 200 followers to nominate and include links to their blogs.
6. Go to each blogger's page and let them know you have nominated them.

11 Random Facts About Me

1. My favorite color is blue.
2. I have never bought a horse, although I have owned 2.
3. I helped my husband choose his name (first and last).
4. I have an excellent innate sense of direction.
5. I'm pretty sure I invented nostril flare dancing. 
6. In college I double-majored in cultural anthropology and business economics.
7. My parents are 20 years apart in age.
8. I am the only horse person in my entire family (and I have a ginormous family).
9. My husband and I have the same birthday (Halloween).
10. I do cartwheels down the office hallway when no one is around.
11. I dislike peanut butter, but I want to like it, so I try it every so often, and confirm that I still dislike it.

11 Questions from Karley of All In 

1. What would your ideal last meal be? Prime rib, garlic mashed potatoes, cesar salad, and ice cream.
2. Ideal riding outfit?  Well-fitting breeches with pockets, technical/cooling top.
3. If you could go anywhere, all expenses paid- where would you go? New Zealand.
4. What are your top 3 musts for a boarding facility? Lights, good footing, quality hay.
5. What one beverage can't you live without? Coffee.
6. Dream car? A horse-box aka lorry like this one.
7. Where do you want to go with your riding? Novice level in eventing.
8. Where do you shop the most for real clothes? To be honest I get most of my real clothes as x-mas or b-day presents from my mom! But if I do have to shop, I go to Kohls mostly.
9. What do you do to calm your nerves at horse shows? Visualize, smile at everyone.
10. Favorite bathing products? Anything from La Source or Lush.
11. If you could pick 2 horses off of www.bigeq.com which would they be? The highest-priced equitation horse and the highest-priced jumper. Just because, as a saddleseater-turned-eventer, I have no idea what I'm looking for in the h/j world.

11 Questions from Hillary of Equestrian at Hart

1. Favorite gait? Canter.
2. Favorite breed of horse? I pick 2: Saddlebred and Thoroughbred
3. Favorite tackshop? Calabasas Saddlery. I just wish it was closer.
4. Favorite tack brand? I'm not sure if I have one, to be honest.
5. If you could be anyone for a day who would you want to be? The President of the USA. I'd be making some changes, and also want to know about Area 51.
6. Discipline you would like to try? Hunters or Jumpers.
7. Thing that you are most afraid of? Stagnation.
8. Favorite TV show? Star Trek Voyager.
9. Biggest barn pet peeve? People leaving halters attached to cross-ties.
10. If given a an unlimited budget and 1 month to travel where would you go? Ice hotel in Sweden, then the mountains of New Zealand, then the beaches of French Polynesia.

11 Questions from Emmi of My Life on Horses

1. You are stuck on a deserted island, what is the first thing you do? Explore.
2. You meet a stranger, he offers you two pills. He says the green one will take you on an amazing adventure although it may have dangerous/deadly consequences or he says you can take the yellow which will make you forget any of this ever happened. Which would you take? Why? Yellow because my life is good and doesn't need adventure or danger right now.
3. Would you rather own a unicorn or a pegasus? Pegasus so I can fly!
4. What was your most memorable experience you and your horse shared? When we first met. He was in a box-stall at the rescue. After meeting him in the box stall, we went around the side to talk to the manager. He stuck his head way up to look at me out of a random high window.   
5. What is a riding discipline you have always wanted to try? Why? ie. barrel racing, steeple chasing etc. Working Equitation. It's like trail class on speed.
6. What was your favorite toy from your childhood? My stuffed bunny, named bunny.
7. If you show, what was your most favorite ribbon/award you earned? Our first ribbon - which meant the first time we did not get eliminated!
8. You are at a bar (or restaurant if you are under 21!) what drink would you order? The girliest, fruitiest, tropical blended thing available.
9. How many siblings do you have? 2 (one full sister, one half brother).
10. What is your favorite time of the year? Summer, because there's daylight after work still!
11. Which do you like short horses or tall horses? I like them all, but if I had to choose then I guess tall.

11 Questions from Hawk of Forging Fiction

1. What is your favorite childhood memory? Getting my first horse, Bo, for Christmas when I was 12 years old.
2. If you could have a super power, what would it be? Ability to predict the stock market. I'd be rich!
3. You have one wish - what would you do with it? Wish that my family will stay safe and healthy and live long happy lives.
4. What is your favorite color? Blue.
5. What are you most passionate about right now? Riding.
6. You win the lottery. What is the first thing you buy? Whatever my husband wants, like a car or something. He deserves to get something since I have a horse, right?
7. What is something that intimidates you? Large down banks.
8. What is a quote that best describes you?  "How people treat you is their karma; how you react is yours." -Wayne W. Dyer
9. If you had a week off from work, what would you do? Ride every day, and organize my house!
10. If you could travel anywhere, where would you go? The far ends of the earth - everywhere I could.
11. What is the most dangerous/daring activity you have ever partaken in? Scuba diving. Seriously, it's way more dangerous than people commonly think. 

11 Questions from Niamh of Life of Riley

1. What's your biggest fear as a rider? *I feel like I don't trust people who say "nothing".  I fear falling off and hurting myself or my horse.
2. Who's your favorite rider and why? Bunny Sexton - she's a So Cal event trainer who, at 51 years old, and just did her first 3-star event on a horse rejected by other top riders. She is truly an inspiration.
3. What's the most useful piece of advice someone's given you as a horse owner?  Your gut instinct > your trainer's advice.
4. How old were you when you got your first horse? 12
5. Burghley, Badminton, or Rolex? Rolex. I know more about it than the other two, and it's closer.
6. Quick, you're trapped on a desert island, what three things do you bring? A yacht, a bikini, and my husband.
7. If you could could have dinner with anyone (alive or dead, famous or not) who would it be? My Pop-pop (maternal grandfather). He passed when I was very young, so there's some questions I'd like to ask him.
8. Favorite guilty pleasure? In-n-out burger animal-style fries.
9. Tell me three things on your bucket list. 1) Watch Rolex live in person. 2) Go back to French Polynesia. 3) Compete in a HT and finish on my dressage score.
10. If you could ride any well known horse who would it be and why? Henny because he seems so game, honest, and solid.
11. Would you rather: Ride without stirrups for the rest of your life OR have one arm tied behind your back at all times? Sans stirrups - I'd be a better rider for it, and after some time I'd get used to it.

11 Questions from Karen of Bakersfield Dressage

1. Where did you meet the love of your life? (Not met him yet? Where might you meet him?) Over AIM (AOL Instant Messenger). Rick was fixing our mutual friend's computer, started chatting with me, then we met in person that evening and the rest is history!
2. You've just won the lottery. Would you quit your job? Yes but probably not immediately. Ultimately I'd rather work part-time than full-time so I have more time to ride and such.
3. Black tack or brown? Black. Looks good on all colors of horses and you don't have to worry about matching the right shade of brown.
4. Where is one place you wouldn't want to visit? Tornado country during tornado season.
5. What's your favorite horse book? Oh boy,
6. How many riding disciplines have you tried? 10 or so. For competition, I've done saddleseat, western pleasure, dressage, eventing, halter, hunters, and jumpers. For fun, I've done trail class, reining, driving, and cow herding.
7. Is there something you won't do with your horse? Right now we're sticking to dressage, jumping, and trail riding since Hemie is still learning his job. I doubt I'll do western competitive riding with him, but other than that I love me a well-rounded horse and want him to try as much as possible!
8. Favorite barn snack? Water from the hose, or the natural gooey horse treats.
9. Do you have a "guilty" pleasure? In-N-Out burger.
10. What's your favorite brand of potato chips? Miss Vickie's Mesquite BBQ
11. Do you prefer "fancy" breeches, or just plain jane? Probably fancy, but I'm not sure since I've never afforded them!

11 Questions for Bloggers I Nominate
Bloggers I nominate can choose to answer any 11 questions they want. Shop around the various great questions above, or from other Liebster Award posts, or answer the questions you yourself invent. =)

11 Bloggers I Select for the Liebster Award
I'm not including the lovely bloggers who nominated me, but please check them out. Reading their selection lists is a great way to find other blogs to read and enjoy! Other than that, I haven't excluded anyone that I know has already received the award (because that would practically be my whole blogroll), so don't feel pressured to answer questions or make another post or anything. Just know that I like your blog and you are "beloved."   :)

1. Nicku of The Polka Dot Periodical
2. Andrea of Project Runaway: The Uncatchable Number 257
3. Carly of Poor Woman Showing
4. Aimee of SprinklerBandits
5. Mel of Boots and Saddles
6. Lindsay of Nanakorobi yaoki
7. Lysette of Viva Carlos
8. Lauren of She Moved to Texas
9. Dom of A Collection of Madcap Escapades
10. Laura of The Roany Pony
11. Gingham of Pia and Prairie's Parade

On a random sentimental personal note, I get lots and lots of enjoyment and value from reading blogs. Furthermore, blogging has brought me much more happiness and useful information than I had ever thought it would. If you're thinking about blogging, I encourage you to go for it. If you're thinking about commenting (or commenting more frequently), please do. Being a part of the horse blogging community has been very rewarding, and awards like this help to recognize and expand that community. Thank you for reading. And if applicable, thank you for commenting and/or writing your own blog. I am just one person, but my life (and that of my horse) has been enriched because of information, support, and encouragement from this community. <3

Jumping Training Update

One of the numerous purposes of this blog is to help me track our training. Its amazing to look back and see what we were working on in the past and how far and fast we've come along.

As far as our jumping training goes, Hemie continues to impress me with his positive attitude and aptitude. He is still quite careful, but he is getting more and more brave. When encountering jumps that are intimidating, he no longer refuses or runs out. Instead, he'll crane his head downward to take a big look and meanwhile crack his back way up and over the jump.

Moreover, there are fewer and fewer jumps that he finds intimidating. At lessons, we will come up with a game plan for approaching iffy jumps, only to find that our planning was for naught - Hemie takes it without issue.

To that end, Laurie has been giving us an interesting challenge of an exercise: she has me release contact earlier and earlier before jumps. As in, reins flopping in the wind loose. While it feels like a trust exercise to me (you know, like at summer camp, where you fall backwards to be caught by a group of peers...), its actually more an exercise to see how Hemie does on his own. For my part it's getting easier and easier to trust my horse, and it's a great reminder that I can actually steer with my legs (I tend to use rein aids before leg aids and that is so backwards). Meanwhile, Hemie is proving that he's more reliable than I give him credit for - he doesn't run off, he doesn't charge (most of the time), but he does come forward which apparently is what we (Laurie, actually) wants.

I do feel that my position is improving. I'm focusing on really having stable legs, active core, and soft seat. The neck strap is not only handy for awkward jumps, but it is helping me have soft elbows and shoulders rather than long reins when I want or need to give to Hemie.

Overall Hemie is somehow getting even more relaxed during lessons. He's never been a tense horse or anything, but I keep noticing how chill he is even when standing around watching other people ride. I really love that about him. He's relaxed yet alert for trail rides, even in new places. I still need to work on getting him used to bareback and halter riding, but he's improving every time with that as well.

I cannot verify accuracy, but it makes for a great quote.