A potential prospect

A couple weeks ago a friend sent me a link to a rescue organization that had a 3 year old mustang up for adoption. The rescue involved typically deals with off the track thoroughbreds, but will often take in horses of any breed that need rescuing. The mustang is absolutely adorable and has the conformation and movement to be a successful dressage horse. With an adoption fee of just $400, he was tough to turn down, but because I will be leaving for my working student position in just a few short months, the timing isn't right. If he is still available when I get back, I will certainly seriously consider adopting him then. If not, then the search will continue.

Mustang video

Some serious life changes

So every once in awhile life throws you a curve ball that causes you to reconsider what you thought were your life plans. Back in February life threw me one of those curve balls when I found out that the state of Oregon had decided to stop fighting the good fight against sudden oak death and would no longer be funding research projects on the disease. For those of you that don't know, my graduate studies are funded by work on sudden oak, and as of June, that funding will be completely gone. As result, I will be finishing up with a masters (for now).

I was lucky enough to find a wonderful opportunity working for Jeri Neider, at Twin Ridge Farm where I will temporarily follow my dream of being a full time rider before heading back to the real world. This means that I will be spending around 4 months in my home state of New Hampshire in the fall. I will have to leave Dave behind which will definitely be the hardest part for me (though he is already planning a visit in October. What a guy. They don't get any better than him.), but it will be nice to be close to my parents who I miss dearly for a little while. I would like to stress, however, that this is only a temporary move and I will be back to the PNW in time for Thanksgiving.

I still believe that there is an Oregon mustang waiting to be my dressage horse, and hopefully I will find him or her when I get back. In the mean time, the tone of the blog may change to be more general dressage and horse related. I'm contemplating a temporary name change to "The Dressage Princess Diaries." What do you think?

Why Dressage?

It is easy to see why people love horses, and it's understandable why people become enthralled with the "more exciting" disciplines such as show jumping and eventing, but I am frequently questioned as to why I am so utterly and completely obsessed with dressage. Well! Let me tell you! My answer may surprise you. The expected response would be "Well I just love feeling connected with my horse and thinking through every stride blah blah blah **cough cough** dressage riders are superior ** cough cough**" , but the truth is to be successful in any discipline, you need to be connected with your horse and think through every stride.

The major reason I love dressage can be summed up in one word: freestyle! I love the musical freestyle. Those of you that know me well know how much I love music. In my eyes, watching a horse move can often be compared to a synesthetic experience where you can see sound. Horses and music go together like strawberries and Gorgonzola (a delicious combo I promise!), and it seems that dressage is the one discipline, aside from possibly vaulting (and no one wants to see me attempt that), that allows one to compete at the very highest level while still leaving room for some artistic expression.

While far from a freestyle, here is a video of me on a horse I use to ride and train, named Hank put to music courtesy of the Flaming Lips. Enjoy!

Hanks Smokin' Gun

Girls that ride and the boys that love them

While I'm not one who typically makes a big deal out of Valentine's day, I thought this would be an appropriate time to show my appreciation to the man in my life who so patiently puts up with my horse craziness. Here is a list of things he puts up with on a regular basis. I'm sure all boys who date riders can relate.

1. 90% of girlfriend's free time is spent at the barn or participating in horse related activities.
2. Saturday morning cartoons have been replaced by the FEI world cup qualifiers for all FEI disciplines.
3. Girlfriend regularly passages down the street on foot while others are watching.

4. Girlfriend babbles on about some horse related news and you have to pretend like you actually care.

5. (sorry mom and dad) Girlfriend comes home several nights a week sweaty and exhausted from riding someone other than you.

Dave you truly are the best! Feel free to add to the list.

I promise

Within the past year, there has been much controversy over a training method known as rollkur. This method is known by many names including hyperflexion, and low-deep-and-round (LDR). It involves horses being ridden with their nose's far past the vertical, often bent deeply to one direction or the other. While I do not know enough horse biomechanics say whether or not this practice is physically damaging, I can say that I have never seen a horse being trained with this method that looks happy. The most troubling thing in my opinion about this practice is the heavy handedness of the riders that employ it.


Public controversy over the use of this method began when video footage of grand prix dressage rider, Patrick Kittel, was released that showed him holding his reins so tightly that his horse's tongue turned blue. Anky Van Grunsven, the sweetheart of Dutch dressage (and cowgirl wannabe), openly uses and defends the technique claiming that it necessary to work certain muscles in her horses' bodies, but I am far from convinced that these heavy-handed methods are necessary.

While the dressage world has taken the most heat for use of rollkur, it is widley used across disciplines from hunter/jumper to western. In the jumper ring it is common to see horses and riders involved in an all out tug-o-war. It seems to me that riders as a whole are becoming less and less willing to put in the work required to train a horse correctly, and would rather do it quickly than do it right.

There are still many riders out there at the top who do put in the extra work to do things right . Adelinde Cornellissen has a lovely and soft way of riding her powerful gelding (not to mention the giant hug he receives after his final salute), Jerich Parzival, which is probably why she is capable of winning so often with a notoriously temperamental horse. Rodrigo Pessoa is able to win grand prix jump-offs with horses that appear so relaxed they could be on a leisurely hack. It is obvious that these riders truly love and respect their horses. These are the riders I look up to and will strive to emulate.

Today I make a promise to any and all horses I may train, ride, or own in the future, that I will do my very best to do things right and always put your well being and happiness ahead quick results.

Happily ever after?

So what happens to all those mustangs that are put up for adoption each year? It would be nice to think that each one finds a wonderful owner and then ride off happily into the sunset. Unfortunately, such a fairytale ending is not common for these horses. Many well-intentioned people adopt mustangs without giving much thought to what caring for and training a wild animal will actually entail. This is not an endeavor one should not take lightly, and should really only be considered by someone with experience, or someone willing to enlist the help of a capable trainer.

While in college, I spent time working at Ever After Mustang Rescue, a place that took in mustangs, trained them, and then placed in approved homes. Most of the horses there were surrendered by owners that realized they were not qualified to train a wild horse. Many came to the rescue neglected, abused, and more fearful of humans than they were when they were wild, but with the hard work and dedication of rescue coordinator, Mona Jerome, many of these horses have been trained and placed with loving families.

While there are many similar rescue facilities, there aren't nearly enough to handle the number of untrained and unwanted wild horses in the country. Just yesterday I went to look at a young, mustang gelding who was purchased at the Eugene livestock auction, and is on his way back there at the end of the month. He is barely halter broke and spends all of his time in a muddy round pen with a leaky run-in shelter. While very cute, he isn't exactly what I am looking for. He is just over 14 h and at six years old, he probably doesn't have much growing left. He also doesn't quite have the build I am looking for in a dressage mount (though I think he'd make a killer little event pony). I was tempted to take him just to relieve him of his current situation, but reminded myself that I will be saving any BLM horse I choose to adopt from a similar fate, so I might as well get one that meets my needs.


Far too many adopted mustangs end up like this little gelding; untrained, getting passed from home to home. Mustangs have the potential to make wonderful horses, but do require a bit more work initially. If you are considering adopting, please really think about what you are getting yourself into.

Inspiration

Here is a link to a video of Padre, the beautiful mustang stallion that won the dressage suitability stallion class at the Devon horse show this year. Not only is Padre an inspiration, but his rider with her fantastic seat, and beautiful soft hands, really gives me something to aspire to.

Padre schooling 3rd level