Notes From Around the Arena
Sept 3rd - 9th, 2012
CGA Newspaper State Show Results
See page four
http://www.calgymkhana.com/docs/newspaper/2012/Sept.%202012.pdf
We have had a busy couple weekends.
We drove up to the Oregon State Fair to compete in the Gypsy Horse Classes to see how we stack up against the breed. We arrived on Sunday afternoon the weather was wonderful the entire time and did not disappoint, we got some rain.
The show was very informative. Our horses had major separation anxiety. Our horses are seriously lacking in feather and length of mane and tail.
We had to continuously review what we were doing, and why we were there. Working to maintain choices that were in all ways supportive of the big picture. Which we kept having to come back to. This show was about the overall training and well being of the horses.
Monday we bathed horses and set up stalls.
Tuesday was show day.
For the 8:00 presentation, we choose to scratch out of the specific mare and gelding halter (conformation) class. They would have to go in separately. We determined that if they could not walk past the 10 foot wall for 3 seconds 10 minutes for the class would push them straight over the edge.
We instead entered into the north American breed (conformation), and the color class, which still qualified us for the upcoming regional. In these classes Ocho and Zen could stand together and feel comforted. Although Zen did wiggle about the entire time. Apparently the other 10 horses in the arena were not comforting and made Zen worry about being able to see Ocho who was right behind her.
There was some down time in the arena after the halter classes so we tacked up and worked for a couple hours to be able to walk out of the arena and come right back. We took turns at this and it never really felt like it got any better however they became more able to follow directions. We could not tell them to not freak out. But we were able to get them to follow directions, like side step, back up, pivot, trot a circle, expand the circle. But to just stand still was out of the question.
For the 1:00 presentation, we rode the western classes, because all classes were rated open we were both allowed to ride all the same classes together. We rode western, walk/jog, walk/jog/lope, and Trail obstacle. This turned out to be the best thing for them as they started to relax knowing that the other was in the arena with them. Although they did try to catch each other on the long side, and try to wait for the other by slowing way down. The trail obstacle class was set very tight and our horses felt giant as they navigated the 3 foot wide gate and both Clair's stirrups rubbed the entire length of the zig zag passage way.
For the 7:00 presentation, we rode the English classes, again we rode together in the open walk/trot, walk/trot/canter. As it got later Ocho started to get worried again. And felt he needed to be touching Zen and did some very beautiful hair tossing as the finale.
Over all we were able to stay true to the horses asking them to give what they could and recognizing when that was out of the question. We made changes to create success that we could build on.
All the while watching Ocho for signs of discomfort from pain and managing what must have been enormous stress on his system. He seemed to be handling it all very well. As he kept improving his behavior and willingness to participate.
Check out the web site for pictures of the Oregon State Fair.
The horses traveled well and we pulled into Rancho Murieta on Thursday for the Gypsy Show Horse Association Regional Finals.
It was terrible hot at 2:00 and i did not like it. We did manage to find our stalls, get checked in, Clair bathed the horses yet again. We even broke out the linage, accolade board and the photo story boards. And some of the draperies.
The set up of this show was much different in that after the halter class Clair had a western class then an English class only an hour apart. Then on Saturday She had to change outfits 4 times and i had two changes. Jan was wardrobe queen. Hairspray and clips, number changes and the getting on and off of the Chaps, oh my. And she did it for both of us. Continuously wiping dust from tack change to tack change.
She kept us fed and hydrated in between getting us entered and re entered into the correct classes. On Friday we discovered we were not allowed to cross enter walk/trot or jog, with walk/trot/canter or jog/lope. So Jan was creative in finding a class for me to ride as i was already dressed and ready to go. She entered me into the Jack Benny class, to qualify you need be over a certain age. I apparently was over that age. We took 4th.
Our first classes where halter mares or geldings. Ocho could not stand still looking for Zen and calling to her. Zen had the same story. But even though they were agitated they were way more handle able then our first day in Oregon.
As it turned out I could not ride the classes with Clair on Friday, so she had to go in without Zen.
So Clair spent a long time correcting Ocho in the warm up area, we were those people for a couple hours.
It turned out that Ocho understood what Clair was telling him. They won the Walk/Trot English open class against 3 trainers and two other riders. And won the Walk/Jog western open class against 4 trainers and two other riders. Setting the stage for them to win both youth western and English.
Zen had only two classes on Saturday She did very well, but showed some nervous behaviors calling for Ocho and would not stand still in the line up and resorted to flipping her head. Most unlady like. She ended up with 3rd in English and 2nd in western.
On Saturday, Jan entered Ocho into the Opportunity Open Trail class. This was not part of the Gypsy program but rather one of the Morgan Horse competition. There were 9 horses to go. And as i watched each horse go there were a couple that would not make the line up and until the last horse went who was near perfect, i could not say one horse over the other. But the judge made Ocho her 2nd place pick and we were all so excited.
On Saturday we were so excited to see Kim and Alex and Olivia Mazzucco, and Nancy and Chloee Ambrosini as well as Deryn Fredette. They spent the day with us enjoying the horse show, shopping and snack bar, as well and wine pouring and silent auction. They all stayed for the catered dinner and Gypsy Horse Performance. It was super fun to have them there, as we did our routine with ribbon sticks to music.
Both Ocho and Zen qualified for the Championship halter class but did not make the final line up.
Both Ocho and Zen qualified for both the English and Western Championship classes and Zen took 3rd in both and Ocho took 4th in both, in a line up of 7-10 horses.
In summary, this was our first show against other Gypsy Horses in almost two years.
We started out with separation anxiety that seemed to subside within only 5 days. We placed well in both shows, lacking only in Feather and fluff. Our confirmation is still desirable.
Ocho's training is solid. Clair's riding and showmanship is elegant.
Zen needs some refinement, and I need to get in better shape. But we are not to be dismissed.
As we look forward to The Gypsy World Show in Texas, I have to say we are looking pretty good.
We have some work to do. Please let me know if you would like to help with the many details.
See page four
http://www.calgymkhana.com/docs/newspaper/2012/Sept.%202012.pdf
We have had a busy couple weekends.
We drove up to the Oregon State Fair to compete in the Gypsy Horse Classes to see how we stack up against the breed. We arrived on Sunday afternoon the weather was wonderful the entire time and did not disappoint, we got some rain.
The show was very informative. Our horses had major separation anxiety. Our horses are seriously lacking in feather and length of mane and tail.
We had to continuously review what we were doing, and why we were there. Working to maintain choices that were in all ways supportive of the big picture. Which we kept having to come back to. This show was about the overall training and well being of the horses.
Monday we bathed horses and set up stalls.
Tuesday was show day.
For the 8:00 presentation, we choose to scratch out of the specific mare and gelding halter (conformation) class. They would have to go in separately. We determined that if they could not walk past the 10 foot wall for 3 seconds 10 minutes for the class would push them straight over the edge.
We instead entered into the north American breed (conformation), and the color class, which still qualified us for the upcoming regional. In these classes Ocho and Zen could stand together and feel comforted. Although Zen did wiggle about the entire time. Apparently the other 10 horses in the arena were not comforting and made Zen worry about being able to see Ocho who was right behind her.
There was some down time in the arena after the halter classes so we tacked up and worked for a couple hours to be able to walk out of the arena and come right back. We took turns at this and it never really felt like it got any better however they became more able to follow directions. We could not tell them to not freak out. But we were able to get them to follow directions, like side step, back up, pivot, trot a circle, expand the circle. But to just stand still was out of the question.
For the 1:00 presentation, we rode the western classes, because all classes were rated open we were both allowed to ride all the same classes together. We rode western, walk/jog, walk/jog/lope, and Trail obstacle. This turned out to be the best thing for them as they started to relax knowing that the other was in the arena with them. Although they did try to catch each other on the long side, and try to wait for the other by slowing way down. The trail obstacle class was set very tight and our horses felt giant as they navigated the 3 foot wide gate and both Clair's stirrups rubbed the entire length of the zig zag passage way.
For the 7:00 presentation, we rode the English classes, again we rode together in the open walk/trot, walk/trot/canter. As it got later Ocho started to get worried again. And felt he needed to be touching Zen and did some very beautiful hair tossing as the finale.
Over all we were able to stay true to the horses asking them to give what they could and recognizing when that was out of the question. We made changes to create success that we could build on.
All the while watching Ocho for signs of discomfort from pain and managing what must have been enormous stress on his system. He seemed to be handling it all very well. As he kept improving his behavior and willingness to participate.
Check out the web site for pictures of the Oregon State Fair.
The horses traveled well and we pulled into Rancho Murieta on Thursday for the Gypsy Show Horse Association Regional Finals.
It was terrible hot at 2:00 and i did not like it. We did manage to find our stalls, get checked in, Clair bathed the horses yet again. We even broke out the linage, accolade board and the photo story boards. And some of the draperies.
The set up of this show was much different in that after the halter class Clair had a western class then an English class only an hour apart. Then on Saturday She had to change outfits 4 times and i had two changes. Jan was wardrobe queen. Hairspray and clips, number changes and the getting on and off of the Chaps, oh my. And she did it for both of us. Continuously wiping dust from tack change to tack change.
She kept us fed and hydrated in between getting us entered and re entered into the correct classes. On Friday we discovered we were not allowed to cross enter walk/trot or jog, with walk/trot/canter or jog/lope. So Jan was creative in finding a class for me to ride as i was already dressed and ready to go. She entered me into the Jack Benny class, to qualify you need be over a certain age. I apparently was over that age. We took 4th.
Our first classes where halter mares or geldings. Ocho could not stand still looking for Zen and calling to her. Zen had the same story. But even though they were agitated they were way more handle able then our first day in Oregon.
As it turned out I could not ride the classes with Clair on Friday, so she had to go in without Zen.
So Clair spent a long time correcting Ocho in the warm up area, we were those people for a couple hours.
It turned out that Ocho understood what Clair was telling him. They won the Walk/Trot English open class against 3 trainers and two other riders. And won the Walk/Jog western open class against 4 trainers and two other riders. Setting the stage for them to win both youth western and English.
Zen had only two classes on Saturday She did very well, but showed some nervous behaviors calling for Ocho and would not stand still in the line up and resorted to flipping her head. Most unlady like. She ended up with 3rd in English and 2nd in western.
On Saturday, Jan entered Ocho into the Opportunity Open Trail class. This was not part of the Gypsy program but rather one of the Morgan Horse competition. There were 9 horses to go. And as i watched each horse go there were a couple that would not make the line up and until the last horse went who was near perfect, i could not say one horse over the other. But the judge made Ocho her 2nd place pick and we were all so excited.
On Saturday we were so excited to see Kim and Alex and Olivia Mazzucco, and Nancy and Chloee Ambrosini as well as Deryn Fredette. They spent the day with us enjoying the horse show, shopping and snack bar, as well and wine pouring and silent auction. They all stayed for the catered dinner and Gypsy Horse Performance. It was super fun to have them there, as we did our routine with ribbon sticks to music.
Both Ocho and Zen qualified for the Championship halter class but did not make the final line up.
Both Ocho and Zen qualified for both the English and Western Championship classes and Zen took 3rd in both and Ocho took 4th in both, in a line up of 7-10 horses.
In summary, this was our first show against other Gypsy Horses in almost two years.
We started out with separation anxiety that seemed to subside within only 5 days. We placed well in both shows, lacking only in Feather and fluff. Our confirmation is still desirable.
Ocho's training is solid. Clair's riding and showmanship is elegant.
Zen needs some refinement, and I need to get in better shape. But we are not to be dismissed.
As we look forward to The Gypsy World Show in Texas, I have to say we are looking pretty good.
We have some work to do. Please let me know if you would like to help with the many details.