Notes From Around the Arena
Feb 4th - 10th, 2013
The D'Alonzo show weekend was amazing!
Deryn came along for the whole weekend, and was a very good sport about repeatedly being a post, and held horses throughout the day.
For Saturday, Clair rode Rocky in the western classes walk jog, and to us he had his personal best. He really was a rock star. His speed and stride are not yet slow and quiet enough for the required movement being judged but he held his own placing 3rds and 4ths and 5ths.
Pharaoh also rode the western classes walk jog lope and he was the same as Rocky really. Just a little to quick. But he also did will 3rds and 4ths and 5ths.
Both horses had their debut in the Reining classes, the requirement of a pattern using only one hand. Pharaoh missed his lead change and required a little two hand guidance. And Rocky was just safer with two hands. So for our first ride out no points scored. But again, from our position Clair was able to execute the pattern in public before the judge and were able to see the weak areas that need a little strengthening. Both horses are really looking good for this event and it will only take a few times to be earning scores.
As the day wound down, Jan brought Comet out for his first public outing. Straight to the round pen as he was a little uncertain. Jan worked him with basic directional control and speed control. They did a great job. Jan holing the correct positions to give Comet clear instruction for him to understand each request. As he became more settled Jan was able to work with Comet to put his head down and wait quietly for haltering. He is beginning to get the idea. Good thing too 'cus he is really quite tall.
Sunday was English, and to all our surprise including Rocky and Clair, Rocky did the English classes walk trot and placed 1st and 2nd mostly. We were all beyond pleased.
Pharaoh rode the walk trot canter classes and pretty much held 2nd the entire day, except in the jumping where he was 3rd three classes in a row.
We pulled Pharaoh from his final jumping class because in all his jump classes he was really fast, his jumps had good shape and form but he kept a rocket pace. Usually an indication of sore back.
As most of you know Pharaoh was off most of last year with back pain, and so could not find a saddle to fit. Well he now has been sound and comfortable in his back for a few months and he has his new correct fitting saddle.
Although it is new and Sunday was the longest he has worn the new saddle and jumped more jumps. Clair scratched the last class and went to work massaging his back and treating him with liniments and covering him with a blanket. She also came out on Monday and exercised him in hand to get the blood flow up and did his stretches. Used the electric massager and treated his back again. Fingers crossed.
Now the funny part was that when i was telling Larry the show manager that we were done he said we should hang around because Clair was in the running for high point of the day. And It came down to this: Rocky had 54 points, Pharaoh got 55, and another little girl also got 55 points to tie and they had a coin toss and the other little girl won. I never got her name. We were just so excited that Rocky was in really close competition with Pharaoh.
Jan gave Comet a bath first thing in the morning so he could greet his public in all his beauty. And we had him stand with Pharaoh, near the arena in gate with all the goings on. Jan spent much time grooming his mane and detangling and re knotting his tail.
He did really well in all the activity. Later in the day we turned Rocky and Comet out into the round pen so they could spend some horsey time together. And when Jan went to catch him up he participated in the "put your head down so i can get the halter on" activity very nicely.
We are so lucky to have had such a great first show of the season.
Thank you.
Deryn came along for the whole weekend, and was a very good sport about repeatedly being a post, and held horses throughout the day.
For Saturday, Clair rode Rocky in the western classes walk jog, and to us he had his personal best. He really was a rock star. His speed and stride are not yet slow and quiet enough for the required movement being judged but he held his own placing 3rds and 4ths and 5ths.
Pharaoh also rode the western classes walk jog lope and he was the same as Rocky really. Just a little to quick. But he also did will 3rds and 4ths and 5ths.
Both horses had their debut in the Reining classes, the requirement of a pattern using only one hand. Pharaoh missed his lead change and required a little two hand guidance. And Rocky was just safer with two hands. So for our first ride out no points scored. But again, from our position Clair was able to execute the pattern in public before the judge and were able to see the weak areas that need a little strengthening. Both horses are really looking good for this event and it will only take a few times to be earning scores.
As the day wound down, Jan brought Comet out for his first public outing. Straight to the round pen as he was a little uncertain. Jan worked him with basic directional control and speed control. They did a great job. Jan holing the correct positions to give Comet clear instruction for him to understand each request. As he became more settled Jan was able to work with Comet to put his head down and wait quietly for haltering. He is beginning to get the idea. Good thing too 'cus he is really quite tall.
Sunday was English, and to all our surprise including Rocky and Clair, Rocky did the English classes walk trot and placed 1st and 2nd mostly. We were all beyond pleased.
Pharaoh rode the walk trot canter classes and pretty much held 2nd the entire day, except in the jumping where he was 3rd three classes in a row.
We pulled Pharaoh from his final jumping class because in all his jump classes he was really fast, his jumps had good shape and form but he kept a rocket pace. Usually an indication of sore back.
As most of you know Pharaoh was off most of last year with back pain, and so could not find a saddle to fit. Well he now has been sound and comfortable in his back for a few months and he has his new correct fitting saddle.
Although it is new and Sunday was the longest he has worn the new saddle and jumped more jumps. Clair scratched the last class and went to work massaging his back and treating him with liniments and covering him with a blanket. She also came out on Monday and exercised him in hand to get the blood flow up and did his stretches. Used the electric massager and treated his back again. Fingers crossed.
Now the funny part was that when i was telling Larry the show manager that we were done he said we should hang around because Clair was in the running for high point of the day. And It came down to this: Rocky had 54 points, Pharaoh got 55, and another little girl also got 55 points to tie and they had a coin toss and the other little girl won. I never got her name. We were just so excited that Rocky was in really close competition with Pharaoh.
Jan gave Comet a bath first thing in the morning so he could greet his public in all his beauty. And we had him stand with Pharaoh, near the arena in gate with all the goings on. Jan spent much time grooming his mane and detangling and re knotting his tail.
He did really well in all the activity. Later in the day we turned Rocky and Comet out into the round pen so they could spend some horsey time together. And when Jan went to catch him up he participated in the "put your head down so i can get the halter on" activity very nicely.
We are so lucky to have had such a great first show of the season.
Thank you.