Looking Back, Driving 2016

Driving Thursday

We continue the 2016 trend of having a stellar year with other people’s horses [SSF], while our own imitate doorstops [Rodney & Milton].

Saddle Seat
Both of us took lessons and showed, when available. Me more than him. Some people don’t feel the need to show at every possible opportunity. Imagine that.

Posh & Greg MSSP 2016 Photo by Sandra Hall Used with permission
Posh & Greg
MSSP 2016
Photo by Sandra Hall
Used with permission

Because I have no agenda for driving, I fail to get in my own way. I do it for fun. At this point, I show in a cart better than I do in a saddle. Seriously. The peanut gallery has repeated sent me into the ring with the exhortation to ride like I drive.

Alvin & Katherine MSSP 2016 Photo by Sandra Hall Used with permission
Alvin & Katherine
MSSP 2016
Photo by Sandra Hall
Used with permission

I drove in 8 shows; Greg in 5. Three big shows; two for Greg. In that time, I encountered one non-Stepping Stone competitor. I don’t understand why more people don’t drive. It’s a hoot, the horses love it, & most Saddlebreds are taught to drive, at least a little, as part of their training.

One of my milestones for the year was learning to properly drive an ASB in the show ring. [Pro-Am, MSSP]

Combined Driving
In 2015, we piddled with the idea [Show Report]. In 2016, Combined Driving took off for us.

Greg took his first lesson.
[Combined Driving Lesson]

Greg competed twice.
[25 Years in the Making]
[Show Report: MTCC 2016]
[Show Report: MTCC Driving Derby 2016 in Photo and Video]

We created the Combined Saddlebred Driving Pleasure division.
Figure 8 [Show Report]
Course [Show Report]
Obstacle [Alvin’s Big Green, Show Report]

We did so much driving that I instituted Driving Thursdays on the blog.

Go Team Walcott!

Lyricc, Greg & Katherine MTCC Driving Derby 2016 Photo by Elizabeth Hickman
Lyricc, Greg & Katherine
MTCC Driving Derby 2016
Photo by Elizabeth Hickman

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Looking Back, SSF 2016

Saddle Seat Wednesday

na16-067-045__2-5x7-katherine-and-courtney-wi

 

Thus endeth the year. Waiting for the announcement at the last class of the last show of the season. Miss Courtney, Iggy, & me at Nationals [Show Report]. Purchased from Sandra Hall Photography.

I love how I look here. Calm. Confident. At ease on the horse. OTOH, there is not a trace of equitation diva in evidence. Weirdly for me, although I can see the flaws, I still like the photo.

By The Numbers
Shows – 13

Big shows – 8. Really 7, there was a 2-in-1 weekend [Show Reports & Addendum]. I overshot my goal of 5 big shows [Revised Show Plan], but not by too much. I even missed a few shows, but mostly due to conflicts with Greg’s driving. More on that tomorrow.

Shows where I won all my classes – 3. All big shows. All with at least 3 classes (5, 4, & 3). One included driving. Never get tired of this. [Pro-Am, NE GA, NRHA]

Riding Classes – 41
Riding Wins – 15

Driving Classes – 9
Driving Wins – 5. Classes of one or two entries, usually me & Greg. We split the wins. He won when steering was required. I won when we had to drive fast & look snappy, mostly thanks to Alvin’s willingness to do same.

Winning Percentage for Riding Classes – 37%;  Adult-Only classes, 38%. One-third is a great percentage in baseball; sucks in school. Not sure where showing falls in that spectrum.

I tended to win the second class of my division, 7 times, versus the first class, 3 times. I ride better after being in the ring once? Judges need to take a second look at me? Who knows. The only times I won the first classes or the championship classes were those golden days when I swept the board.

 

NE GA Sam 6

 

Lessons – numerous
Lesson Horses & Lesson Horse Owners – Generous
Having a Barn Home – Priceless

Past Posts
2015 It Was a Very Good Year
2014 On the 7th Day of Christmas: Seven Horses Showing
2013 On the Twelfth Day of Christmas: 12 Lovely Horses

Process note: Since the show year runs from December to December, it does not exactly match the calendar year. The difference is one Winter Tournament schooling show. Close enough.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Looking Back, Milton 2016

Double sigh.

Everything I said about Rodney [2016] holds true for Milton:
Activity, but no progress.
Easy on the eyes.
Entertaining to have around.
Personality to spare.

Sure the driving training is going well, but what good does that do ME?

The biggest change in Milton has been from the feed [Adventures]. Grey horses get bumps. It happens. He has a particularly large, ugly one on the inside of his right thigh. The swelling of this lump was one of the indicators that sparked the recent feed change. On the new feed, the lump is gradually shrinking. Yay! It is also falling apart. I have been in the habit of cleaning and medicating it. Lump is benign, but bad. Therefore, anything that annoys lump is good. Recently, a small part of it fell off during cleaning. Gross, but yay.

Was he having a low-grade inflammatory reaction to something? Now that his system is not under seige, it can address lump management? Or do I have no grasp of equine anatomy? Whatever the reason, the lump is smaller. This is a demonstrable physical change. We are not imagining it. We also think we see a change in his outlook. We might be imaging this.

Have we been making him NQR all this time? Have we finally gotten back to the horse he was in Canada? OTOH, I have made similar statements after changing feed, instituting naptime, etc. [Did not search for past posts. I don’t wanna know how often I’ve said this. Too depressing.] Have we turned a corner, or are we turning in circles?

Onwards!

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Looking Back, Rodney 2016

Sigh. What can I say that I didn’t say 3 years ago [Zeno’s Horse Training]? Rodney makes progress, but gets nowhere.

As I said earlier this month [Meanwhile], Rodney has been working on long-lining and field walks. Both slowly improve. He’s stands quietly, playing couch, while Milton works. He’s wearing a bit instead of a hackamore [Or Not]. I can use the reins without having him curl his neck up like a shrimp, at least at the walk.

And yet.

We not an inch closer to any of my competition goals than we were at the beginning of the year.

On The Upside
It’s not all bad news. As pasture decoration, Rodney is outstanding (not just out. standing.). He’s pretty to look at. He’s gorgeous when he moves. He’s low maintenance: lives out, doesn’t wear a blanket, gets 2 front keg shoes. For a 17-hand horse with Thoroughbred feet, two simple front shoes count as low maintenance.

He’s a kind horse. He likes to be with his people, and appreciates when we minister to his various – thankfully minor – ailments.

He has a huge personality. He provides us with endless amusement. I often sit at the barn simply to watch and listen.

Plus, the feed change has been good for Rodney as well as for Milton [Feed Adventures]. Rodney has always been good about putting on weight. Now he’s filling out over the ribs as well. He has abundant energy without having it bubble out his ears.

So that was 2016. As far as Rodney Progess goes, not much different from 2015, or 2014, or … nevermind. Onwards!

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott