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.

starstripe outtake 4

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

Another Voice Chimes In

Not all of my inner voices are vicious [Inside My Head, Time Management]. One is courageous to the point of stupid.

So there I was, watching a very good rider have a come-to-Jesus meeting with a fancy suit horse. Thought popped into my head:

Inner Voice: I could ride that horse.
Me: What?! You barely know how to ride a Saddlebred. You think you can school on one?
Inner Voice: Yup.
Me: Just because he is the same color as Sam doesn’t mean he goes like Sam.
Inner Voice: I got this.

I haven’t heard this voice for years. Last time, I was checking out a Baby Novice cross-country course, back when I thought Rodney & I might need the information. Walking past a Preliminary fence, I suddenly had the thought, I want to jump THAT one.

The voice has been know to write checks that my body can’t cash.

8) “Having trouble with your horse? Here let me try.”
[10 Reasons To Wear A Helmet]

OTOH, it’s the same voice that finally got me riding the Opinionated Jumper Mare after seven years of waffling. [Yin, photo]

She was so reliable, I remember coming out of a corner for a fence on the diagonal and knowing, with iron certainty, exactly where she was planning to put her feet 6 strides away.
[Bucket List]

Let’s be clear. I have no desire to ride the misbehaving suit horse. If handed the reins, I would run screaming, or fall over in a faint. My inner voice is delusional. But, it’s nice to know she’s still in there.

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott

Texan in Tokyo, Blog & Books

Referral Saturday

Mineta drawing

Japan in general and Tokyo in particular fascinate me. When I found Texan in Tokyo by Grace Buchele Minta, I read all her posts, bought the three books then out, and began drumming my fingers waiting for her to write more.

Part of the appeal is her writing and her honesty:
I (still) get hate mail because I married someone who isn’t white

For me, the majority of the appeal is the vicarious travel:
11 Awkward signs found on Trains in Japan
Why Are Japanese Kids So Calm? Parenting in Japan VS America

In the Kickstarter campaign for her latest book, one of the tiers had the option for a personal sketch. “.. + Drawing of you/your loved ones! Send me photos and I will draw whomever you want on the inside page of the book.” Meh. I wanted to support the artist, but had no desire to see myself in comic form. Aha! I asked her for something at the intersection of horses and Japan: statue, racing, cartoon, whatever. She went with yabusame, a form of traditional mounted archery. More info, Wiki: Yabusame & A Modern Girl, Yabusame: The Japanese Art of Horseback Archery . Cool.

Mineta cov pic

Previous Saturday Referrals
Horseback Reads
Cover Girl
Snark-o-licious
Adieu

Thank you for reading,
Katherine Walcott