Antique Horse Toys, Guest Photo Post

(You don’t have deja vu. I mis-scheduled this. It was posted & sent out by email yesterday. I moved the post to today, causing a duplication for anyone who comes by early & a re-emailing. Apologies.)

Seen at the Degre Auction in Westfield, Vermont. http://www.degreauction.net

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A non-horse bonus
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Roaming Reader Photos
Fall Colors in the Adirondacks
Summer in a New England Garden
Foto Friday: New England
Show Today: Winter Tournament, Rocking S: Snow Photo
Fancy Ribbon
Mail-Order Horse, Gratuitous Balloon

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Butterfly Bit

Driving Thursday

 

butterfly bit

 

Milton’s new bit, a flexible mouth butterfly from Driving Essentials. We were concerned that the heavy shanks of a standard driving bit would swamp his delicate Thoroughbred face.

He goes better in this than he did in his previous bit, a flexible mouth, loose ring snaffle. Weird, because the mouthpiece is the same & we use the snaffle rings on this one. The only difference is the slight distance to the headstall attachment. Yet he is clearly happier in the mouth and goes more freely forward.

Go figure.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Let the Madness Begin, Again

Saddle Seat Wednesday

NACHS 2016

 

To the surprise of no one, I am taking another shot at Academy Nationals. My original thought was to play around in August, then get serious in September [Summer Plan]. However, an examination of the calendar revealed that the barn will be showing much of September and October. (Even a few shows that I am not attending!) So, we start now. Those of us planning for Murfreesboro are fiddling with combinations of horse, rider, and tack, looking for the optimal configurations.

The Plan
I will prepare, but with less intensity than last year [Let the Tune-Up Begin, Final Progress Report]. I’ll finished out August with lessons, both regular and leg [Lessons], taking a break while the high flyers go to Louisville. In September, I will start the month with a small show, then extra lessons for the rest of the month. In October, fewer lessons but more showing. After that, a break, which I should have done last year.

The Projection
I’ve been to Nationals three times: once in walk-trot, twice in walk-trot-canter. Each year has two finals. I’ve finished top three in all six: two thirds, four seconds. Go, me! I’ve started second and ended up second. I’ve started last and ended up second. I’ve started in the middle of the pack and ended up second.

How will I do? Pffft, it’s horses. Who knows. I go in with a better record than last year. So far, three shows where I have won all my classes, including the all-age championship. OTOH, I’ve also had Thank You For Playing classes. Results will depend on how I do, how the horse does, how I react to what the horse does, and what the judges think about all of the above.

What if I win? That would be pleasant.

What if I don’t win? Well, I’ve shown that I can be second with three different horses. That should reduce the tailspin.

What if I don’t win and another member of Team Stepping Stone does? No one from my barn is in my division. Their success is not my loss. I will cheer. I will congratulate the victor. I will be sure that I am out of sight before I start screaming and throwing things.

What if I come in second? Again? Just call me Alydar.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

What Comes After 11?

In the past, I have claimed that Rodney has his knobs on 11 [Zeno, New Year]. I was wrong. He’s cranked those suckers way beyond that.

His neck was sore. Either from 1) changing his mind about electrical therapy [Zap], 2) an underlying chronic condition, or 3) playing Bite Your Buddy with Milton. A bout of BYB involves waving your teeth near your opponent’s throat, while avoiding opponent’s teeth near your throat. Lots of feinting and sudden neck motions.

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Either way, we treated Rodney’s neck with a menthol muscle rub. He continued to act as if the sky was falling. It took us two days to realize that he was reacting to the rub. I hosed it off and soothed the area with Vetasan. Peace reigned.

Remember a week or so ago, when he objected to the gentian violet on his back [Hunting Zebras]? His back is fine, but a few other spots that I dabbed are still ruffled up and annoyed.

Then there was the time he objected to a liniment bath [EEEE-ouch!]. We had to hose that off as well.

Seriously, how sensitive can a horse be?

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott