Psychology of the horse and rider: II

In Psychology of the horse and rider: I, I talked up the importance of the mental state of the sport horse in competition. No brilliant revelations in that post -- most people would agree that horses have emotions, opinions, and preferences. I remembered another good example from dressage. Louise Nathhorst and Walk on Top were World Cup winners in 1997, but Walk on Top had his issues. He was known for shying violently at the patterns in a newly groomed arena. Imagine. Louise had to grapple with horsie inattention as soon as they entered the arena. As for myself, when I start to forget my horses have distinct preferences, they'll do something to re-remind me.

The other extreme
At the other end of the spectrum, I occasionally hear people overestimate a horse's mental capacity/reasoning too. Have you heard other riders or trainers make statements like these?

• "He's acting lame to get out of work."
• "Look, he stepped on my crop and broke it -- on purpose!"
• "He spooked in that spot because he saw a horse fall there last year."
  

I don't know. While horses have personalities, I don't think they have super-complicated agendas or the capacity to scheme. Do you agree?

What do horses want?
Although you can't always predict specific horse behavior, you can usually predict what will motivate their behavior...

• They are social, and preoccupied with herds and hierarchy.
  
• They are body-conscious, focusing on what they feel (touch, pressure) and what others do with their bodies.
• They love what is familiar and predictable
• They are order followers -- they listen to the alpha dude, if there is one

Need an example?

I'm told that horses running round a race track behave as if in a "herd." The subtle ways they interact can affect the outcome of the race. Think how subtle their actions and reactions must be to be interpretable during a race! In dressage, jumping, and eventing, horses are alone in the ring or on course with the rider. What relationship do we have with them, and how does it impact our success in competition? Do horses think of us as herd members, or are we just these weird creatures that they try to incorporate imperfectly into their world? Certainly we're speaking different languages -- they're very body-conscious and we're more verbal.

What this means for competition
I truly think that most horses are not natural leaders -- they want nothing so much as to have someone else in charge. Even if they challenge our authority, they are ultimately more calm and confident when they can relinquish control to us. In competition, such as events or horse shows, they don't know for sure what to expect, and they will look to us. We need to show leadership from the time we open their stall door till we leave the ring on a long rein.

BTB Invention central: Cross-tie Saver

Riley redefines mouthy for the equine world, and now that he is sidelined with an abscess, he's antsier than ever. He doesn't take well to 45 minutes in cross-ties while I fuss with his foot. When we're done the ties are soggy from his chewing. I try to use my voice to correct him as much as possible, but I'm so over the "never hit them in the face" adage. Thank goodness he's not head-shy, but I'm sure other boarders are tired of soggy, chewed-on cross ties. What to do? Necessity is the mother of invention, right? Well, meet the nubby no-nibble tie covers! The video says they are untested but at this point they are tested -- and they work, at least for Riley. Even if the covers don't stop the chewing, at least the ties are protected from wear and sogginess.

Note: I'm the narrator, demonstrator, and videographer of this video.
It's a bit unorganized and while I refer to step 3 I don't mention steps 1 and 2 :-)

So, my goofy invention is a plastic tube with sharp nubs on the outside. You pull the cross-ties through the tube to protect them from a chewy horse. Looking to save your cross ties? Here's what you need:

• Clear plastic carpet runners -- the kind with sharp nubs on one side (used for traction) -- in the length of your choosing.
  
• Clear plastic duct tape (Scotch makes it) or regular duct tape should work too .
• Scissors that can cut the runner plastic.
  

STEP 1: Measure the circumference of your cross ties (guesstimate is fine).
STEP 2: Lay out the plastic runner.
STEP 3: Cut the runners. Cut lengthwise, 2-3 feet long and wide enough to wrap around the cross tie. When you cut, make sure that the long sides do NOT have nubs along the edge (you need flat plastic to apply the tape).
STEP 4: Please the nubby side down on a flat surface,
STEP 5: Apply a length of tape along the long side, face down.
STEP 6: Flip the tape back (see video, the part where I really struggle!)
STEP 7: Pull the other edge up and apply it over the sticky tape, smooth side down. It will form a tube.
STEP 8: Cut a thin strip of the duct tape and apply it over the seam of the tube's exterior.

That's it!

Ebay selling: the good, the bad, and the deadbeats

Okay, so I list a smartphone on Ebay. During the auction, I field perhaps 8 questions from potential buyer Kristian. All of his questions are answered in the description, but I respond politely. Even in these brief exchange, I can tell he's probably 15 years old.

The auction ends...
It's the end of the auction and I have a winner -- Kristian, as it turns out. With dismay, I note Kristian has zero purchase/selling history. So after receiving no response to my invoice, I send an email to Kristian. The email exchange ensues...

Tuesday

---

Hi, I see you have no feedback or purchase history on Ebay. Please reply ASAP so that I know you are interested... Thanks! Stacey

---

Yeah can u give me till Friday to pay u kristian

---

Via paypal? Stacey

---

Yes. kristian

---

Sure. Thanks! Stacey

25 seconds later

---

Hi Stacey would it be ok if I pay u in tuesday. i will pay u for sure. And I will pay but can u give me a extension. kristian

---

No, sorry, the funds need to be transferred by Friday 5pm EST. I will
repost the item if not paid for by Friday. Stacey

---

i will have the money by Friday kristian

Friday 9am

---

Wil be making the payment Saturday am when will u ship Kristian.

---

Why not 5pm EST as you agreed earlier? What difference will one night make? Sorry, I'm anxious to be paid or I'll need to relist. Stacey

---

I paid check your pay pal Kristian

---

Thanks, I saw you have paid. I will put it in the mail tomorrow or Monday. Stacey

---

No problem. U think u can do it today Kristian

---

Nope. Sorry. Stacey

Ah, youth. My greatest fear is that when I'm in a nursing home 30 years from now, he'll be the orderly assigned to me...

Michael Jackson: A dressage freestyle

Monica Theodorescu and Whisper used Michael Jackson music in their LasVegas 2009 Freestyle to Music. Thought I'd share it to honor MJ's passing -- he was an enormous talent.

Now, I'll be honest with you. I'm not sure her freestyle music, lovely as it is, captures the essence of MJ. It's so classicial! For those with more plebian tastes such as myself, here is a youtube video of riding to music...

Out, damned abscess

Riley is now on day 6 of a nasty abscess. On Sunday June 21 he came in from the pasture three-legged lame. The farrier feels it is actually part of the same abscess he had in March. He's cleaned out a crevice that extends up his toe, and unfortunately "it's into the white line."

I've been poulticing and soaking every day since this began, and March the ordeal lasted over 2 weeks. Last night Riley bit me on the back as I bent down to check his hoof while he was eating. We are BOTH so tired of this!!! Meanwhile I'm shortchanging Harvey on visits. Times like this they need to be at the same barn...

Boring video alert! We turn him out with a hoof sock (product name) duct taped on his hoof. He's not running around much so it stays on. In this footage he looks pretty good, but he bears weight on that leg with great reluctance...

What causes an abscess?
Popular wisdom varies dramatically -- weather, improper trimming/shoeing, nutrition, bruising, poor hoof quality, etc. Veterinary resources seem so suggest that anything that compromises the hoof wall will allow bacteria into the hoof capsule, causing an abscess. So while wet weather cause a spike in the number of abscesses in a particular geographic area, what makes an individual horse susceptible is a breach in the protective barrier of the exterior hoof. So it isn't exactly correct to say muddy pastures cause abscesses.

People are sort of ho-hum about abcesses, but be careful! It's not terribly common, but abscesses can affect the internal structures of the hoof, and not in a good way. Recurring abscesses -- abcesses that occur in the same location -- may need advanced treatment, even surgery.

All these things are floating unpleasantly in my head right now...


Some articles on abscesses...

Horse channel article on hoof abscesses

Hoof abscesses from The Horse magazine

Hoof abscesses from Equinepodiatry

Psychology of the horse and rider Part I

Check out the new Tag Cloud on right. Shows the hot topics on BTB :-)

---

I wish I remember where I read this, but I don't. Recently I read that at the upper levels of sports competition, the athletes are all so talented and well-trained there really isn't much difference in their abilities -- all in all, physically, they're about equal. The reason one athlete wins over another? According to the experts, it's the psychological factors -- their confidence, preparation, concentration, etc. No wonder there is so much buzz over sports psychology, and no wonder Jane Savoie has such a following in the equestrian community.

The horse/rider partnership
To be sure, the rider's psychological state is critical -- but riding is part of an interspecies dynamic. What about the horse??? They're the ones doing the real work, albeit directed by us. Their athletic preparation will set the stage for a great round/ride, but it goes beyond that. I wonder alot about what horses think, and how they think. "Horses are not machines," a former trainer used to say. THEIR confidence, trust, willingness, temperament, and reaction time will usually determine who wins in this sport.

Some examples...
There are ample examples out there, and of course I don't recall where I read most of them...

• An expert on dressage was asked what it takes to be an international dressage horse. The expert said that the horse should like to travel. It seemed an odd comment at first, but on reflection the stress of transport and disruption of routine would wreak havoc on a sensitive/nervous horse.
• The dressage horse Flim Flam sometimes could not be convinced to enter the dressage ring -- someone had to lead him in. Rider Sue Blinks, who was his rider at the time, said that this behavior broke her heart. She tried hard to keep things pleasant for him.
• At a top level dressage competition, a horse and rider's freestyle ride was interrupted by some sort of audio/technical problem. She was allowed a do-over, but had to exit the ring while they fixed it. While they were waiting, her horse stretched out and peed as he always did at the end of a work session. The rider panicked, because she knew her horse was no longer in work mode, and they were about to go back in the ring and do it all again.
  

Top level equestrian athletes have so much at stake in their performances. They train and plan and prepare, and the day of competition, they might find that the horse just ain't with the program. It really is a test of sportsmanship.

Do you have examples or insights into this topic?

The Harv archive: The lost jumping footage resurfaces

It's 1998. Harv is 12, and apparently I'm immortal. For all my talk about riding safety, this video shows I once was one of the idiots I now whine about. No. Freaking. Helmet. What was wrong with me??

And over fences no less. Harv jumps capably despite being handicapped by a dressage saddle . This was a beautiful fall day.

Competitive edge part II: The rest of the story

New Web address! behindthebitblog.com

So you may have read the Competitive Edge Part I where I suggest that having a great horse and a great attitude being a victory in and of itself. Doesn't that sound mature and virtuous? Moral high road ho! Lest I appear to you as one unburdened by ego and pride, here is the rest of the story.

Show preparation
Getting ready for the show, I chat with other riders at the barn. It's all very positive talk:

• I hope Harv and I do a personal best.
• The whole thing should be fun.
• The scores are important to track progress.
• Ribbons don't matter.

We all hope for good weather, a pleasant judge, and a safe trip. Move over Sally Swift, I'm the ultimate "centered" rider.

Arriving at the show
We unload and I jog over to the steward's tent to pick up my number. Approaching the table, I pause in front of the shiny fluttering ribbons. Who could pass by that delightful, mesmerizing eyeful? It looks like the first place winner get an etched goblet -- oooh, I'd LOVE one of those! Also on display is an example of the neck ribbon go to the year end award winner.

It's as if someone has flipped a switch. I'm no longer Stacey Kimmel, I'm the Grinch in boots and breeches. Covetous, greedy thoughts elbow their way into my brain. I rub my chin, gazing upon the spectrum of colors at the award table, and my eyes narrow.

I want a ribbon. A blue one.

My mind's eye picture Harv and I marching triumphantly into the Whoville with a bag full of blues and the goblet. Wouldn't our doubters (and I know who they are) feel like losers?

The scheming begins
I grab a list of ride times and start looking at the other competitors.

• Hmmm, lots of riders here today. Dammit.
• Cindy Lou Who, she's a nice rider. Maybe she'll scratch.
• Ah, another thoroughbred. I think Harv and I have outscored them before.
• What are Lendon Gray's students doing here????
• That YR with the kickass dutch warmblood is in my class. How annoying.
  

Squelching the inner Grinch
I head back to the barn where Harv is waiting in a temporary stall. With each step, the conviction that I must have those ribbons begins to waver. Harv is peering out of the chain link, looking every bit like a prisoner. He hates shows. His sweet, anxious face brings me back to reality. A flake of hay seems to calm him, and I start going over my test -- not just the movements but the Jane Savoie perfect practice which includes half-halts, aids, anticipating Harv's evasions, etc. I forget about the ribbons.


In the end...
A few times we have made it home with some good scores and some blues. But usually there are no surprises, and progress in our work is slow. Another rider (Kevin are you reading this?) once told me to hold on to the good show memories b/c they're the punctuation marks in a long story of toil. It's so true!


*From the Grinch song (the original 1966 movie)

The troubles in Iran, and a world-weary horse

New Web address! behindthebitblog.com

Harv pays attention to the weightier matters of the world. When we went to see him Sunday night, we found him in a thoughtful and troubled mood. Skippy (in the background) was too. Harv seemed too distracted even to enjoy grazing--he didn't attack the grass with his usual gusto. Before we left, Bob counseled both of them about watching too much CNN.

Bob is one to talk! The news and footage coming over is sobering, isn't it? We are so very lucky...

Rust breeches: The comeback color?

Update your BTB link! Due to a failure in my blog service redirect some links are broken. Update your link to http://behindthebitblog.com (behindthebit.blogspot.com may not work any more).

Back in 1978, rust breeches were a new fashion trend on the hunter/jumper show scene, and a navy coat and rust breeches were what the kids were wearing. Stacia Madden (back then Stacia Klein) and I competed in the same region/circuit, and I can attest that she wore them. That's me in the photo below, stylin' in my cordovan boots and rust Harry Halls.


No navy coat for me, but a muddy tweed. Since I'm name dropping I'll mention that this used show coat was previously owned by then up-and-coming teen rider Donald Cheska. Well. What an... honor? I couldn't find a used ladies coat to fit my tall frame/long arms, and even this man's coat didn't fit well (look at the sleeves)! You take what you can get.

They're Baaaack???
Now here's a stunner. According to the Horseman's Outlet sales lady, rust is making a comeback. Rust! There is a COTH post about the various shades of rust to back this up. What do I think? The earth-tone rust of the seventies has a place in the equestrian world, but it seems that the "new" rust ranges from the brick color of my youth to well, orange. The Horseman's Outlet's selection ranged from burnt orange to a bright pumpkin. Ick.

Foxfire
I can't close this post without mentioning the horse I was riding in the photo above. Foxfire was a girl scout summer camp horse that became a school horse at our farm in the fall and winter. I leased him 9 months out of the year for $50/month. An honest, big-strided, tidy jumper, Fox's breeding was a mystery, but he almost certainly had some TB in him. We foxhunted, and we competed in children's (3') and junior (3'6") hunter.

What a joy he was -- uncomplicated and dead honest, he was the kind of horse that made you believe you were a better rider than you were. We showed infrequently, but managed to get good ribbons and even championships when we did.

Ah, well. If I haven't been lucky in love, I've been lucky with horses...

Faith Cook's fall at Bramham CCI***

BLOG DIFFICULTIES: My blog service is experiencing issues -- you may not be receiving feed updates or email updates. Resubscribing may help (let me know if it does!). To see the latest entry, click on the Behind the Bit header. I'm hoping it will sort itself out, lots of bloggers are complaining. Sorry for the inconvenience...
The horse is okay, and the rider is okay, perhaps in part to her wearing the Point Two Air Jacket which inflates when the rider falls. $650. I found this on the COTH list, where everyone is asking "where were the frangible pins???"

clipped from www.dailymail.co.uk

For my next trick, a perfect head over hooves: Picture of terrifying fall of rider and horse at international show

For rider Faith Cook it was a heart-stopping moment.

Her horse Nagor de la Roche didn't look too pleased either.

The animal, who appears in this spectacular picture to have achieved the perfect nose-stand, came out of it slightly the better of the two, escaping with bruising.

Horror crash: Faith Cook and her horse Nagor De La Roche spectacularly fall at the Bramham Horse Trials at the weekend

Miss Cook, from Oxfordshire, was taken to hospital with neck and back injuries.

She was competing in the under-25 section of the Bramham International Horse Trials at Bramham Park, Wetherby, West Yorkshire, when Nagor de la Roche mistimed his approach to a fence and went flying.

A spokesman at Leeds General Infirmary said it was too early to say whether Miss Cook would make a full recovery.

clipped from www.flickr.com

BHAM2381_faith_cook_rotational_fall

Faith lands and momentum rolls her away. As you can see from the picture, Sammi has landed on the right side of his head, and as he falls he lands to Faith's right hand side.

7 yr old Knabstrupper gelding at Prix St. George

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What a doll! This boy is in New Hampshire presently. Described as incredibly easy to ride and train, he's progressed very quickly to the upper levels...

Trifecta dreams: three is a good number

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Three is a good number, don't you think? Three horses would be fun. Perhaps I could move them into my house and I'd rent a stall for myself (and Bob).

I found this De Laurentis son on Equine.com -- he shares the same sire as Riley and I think I see resemblance in conformation and movement. This boy seems more refined all over than Riley, but I suppose it might be an old picture--he looks like he has a lot more growing/filling out to do. If he is 16 hands now, he could easily make 16.3. And I love his name, Democracy. It's classy, and fits all my criteria for a good name (see my post on show names). Disclaimer: I don't know the owner or anything about the horse aside from what is in the ad.

Welcome to my dream, a trifecta of chestnut, bay, and black. Click link below, on left, to see more pix.

clipped from Click here for full ad with pix

Horse Name	Democracy
Price	$20,000
Location	Lovettsville, Virginia
Breed(s)	Hanoverian
Sex	Gelding
Height	16.0 hands
Color	Black
Foal Date	Apr 2006
Markings
Weight
Pedigree	Sire: De Laurentis Dam: Wendolyn
Registrations	AHS - American Hanoverian Society ()
Disciplines	Hunter (Prospect) Dressage (Prospect)
Attributes
Temperament	3 (1=Bombproof, 10=Hot)

Having seen a lot of De Laurentis babies/youngsters under the age of three, I can say that he consistently passes on refinement, a lovely eye, and fluid, pretty movement. It'll be interesting to see how their gaits develop as they mature. The few I've seen jump do it very stylishly.

It's interesting to note that back in 2006, when I was looking at babies, I found this horse for sale as a weanling -- called right away! I think he had either sold when I called, or perhaps the owner told me he was not necessarily going to be very tall.

Ride #5: G is for Go, T is for turn

Riley had a super night overall. I think he likes the mildness of the Nathe bit, and Christa felt more at ease. It really shows in the confidence they both have, and in Riley's more relaxed topline.

I have to say I just love the picture to the left -- he was trotting down the diagonal, toward the door leading outside (hopeful, I think, that he'll be able to trot right through). Christa is letting him step out and enjoying the ride.

Here's the footage where he shows he can GO (when he isn't distracted by something).

T is for Turn... I said, TURN!
The 20 meter circle work was amusing at first. I sometimes miss Riley's babyhood, so it was secretly satisfying to see some classic baby behavior. He's been lungeing on 20 meters for over a year, and lunged with a rider a number of times. But when asked to trot a circle w/o benefit of a lunge line, he doesn't quite get it, and well -- he pouts. The first few circles end in sort of a bastardized careening leg yield, but look how quickly he figures it out...

Unleashing my inner matchy-matchy

Confession time readers -- I've run amuck with promo materials for BTB. How did I come to this point of wretched excess? It all started with the BTB biz cards which are pictured in the sidebar. Then I thought, wouldn't business card magnets be just the thing?

Then, inexorably, came the pens. These were pricey but fun and the giveaways always inspire more back and forth with readers :-). It's worth it.

So I'm doing more mailings, and thinking, "It's so tacky to mail stuff in used envelopes and enclosing an index card with thanks scribbled on it." I also worried that people would wonder who the heck this person was in the return address? So now I have matching note cards, envelopes, and return address labels.

You'd think that would more than satisfy the my branding needs. But no. I went over the top, with the coup de grace: The BTB notepad.

The first time I sent out a BTB pen, I realized what I'd done. Poor Harv, he'd be so embarrassed to see his image all over every piece of mail. My grandmother used to say that to get dressed, put on all the jewelry you intend to wear and then remove one piece. I could have used her advice for my promo materials. I'll use these up and then reorder on a selective basis.

Seriously if you'd like one, send me your address via behindthebit at blogspot dot com. And use'em!

Oh, and BTW, I buy this stuff from Vistaprint.com -- prices seem pretty good --definitely better than cafepress.com and zazzle.com, and I'm happy with the quality and customization options. Thanks all.

Modelling horse clothes: Advice to retailers

A colleague at work suggested that I check out a particular retailer -- a European Web site -- for bits. Following his advice I took a look at Calevo.com, and after looking at horse equipment I cruised to the apparel section. It was a rather jarring experience, and I gazed wide-eyed wonder at the European take on riding gear. I have some advice for the Europeans -- the retailers, the ad people, but mostly the guys that photograph the models and clothes.

How we do it here in the U. S. of A.
Take a look to the right. This is a photo from an American catalog (author salutes), Dover Saddlery. Never have I so appreciated the fresh, outdoorsy feel of this publication. How sporty and athletic and wholesome the model is! Do you know that I sometimes debate in my head whether these girls are real riders or models? They look so at ease in their clothes.


How it's done in Europe -- Dieter Sprocket, as I live and breathe!
Remember the Dieter Sprocket skits from SNL? That's what I thought of when I saw these pix.

A few comments from across the pond... --Before you did the shoot, did anyone mention what those clothes are for? --You realize that this girl is striking poses would never occur naturally in any setting, much less at a barn? In the checked breeches photo, she looks like she's thinking "Damn, my right arm's gone limp again." --Why would anyone dump a bucket of clean water? Her posture suggests she is throwing an amount of H20 that woudn't fill an Evian bottle. Try hoisting a real bucket, girl! You won't maintain that kittenish pose for long. --I'm not blaming the model. I feel for her. She's trying to strike the sexy pose, but her eyes are saying "Help! Rescue me from this career-ending photo shoot!" --And she needs to be sexy why? Have you noticed, or has anyone told you, that barns are not a great place to meet straight men? Fancy clothing is to impress the other divas, dahhhling. Or, maybe I'm just another prudish American. Pardon my delicate sensibilities :-). Oh, and despite all the bluster and ranting, I love the clothes. Especially the pink breeches!

A fashion breakthrough at the Dutch championships

In a pretty big upset, Edward Gal and Totilas won the 2009 Dutch Championships on June 9. Judges were unanimous in scoring Edward Gal and Totilas higher (86.7) than the nearest rival, Anky Von Grunsven/Salinero, who scored 84% or thereabouts.

On the fashion front, Gal is sporting a daring choice of coat color (well, if buff can be considered daring) as he and Totilas lay down an amazing freestyle ride. The Jurga Report gives the coat a big thumbs up:

"Gal rode wearing a new buff-colored coat with contrast piping to enhance the horse's coloring. Dressage coats are traditionally dark colors and the light color with contrast piping really helps embolden the dark horse's frame."

You can see the coat a little bit on the left. I just love contrasting piping, and generally the contrast ofa light coat on a dark horse looks pretty fetching. Anyway, there are a couple of videos of these fantastic rides.

To see all three rides...

To see them on a larger screen click here...


Or just view the youtube video of just Edward and Totilas...

Two reasons to wear a good helmet

And remember, you need to REPLACE your helmet every five years or after any fall.

The 2009 foals - some cuties!

One of my lunch break pleasures is Youtube. While munching some pumpernickel pretzels, I searched for videos of 2009 foals for a dose of baby cuteness. Success! Make sure you watch them all.

Here is a Damon Hill X Flemmingh foal (filly), interacting with a tarp and being adorable...

The footage below shows a pretty remarkable filly IMHO. The blurb says she is two weeks old -- she looks a bit older -- but the movement is spectactular regardless.



Here is another by the same sire, this one is in Ohio. If you're in the market for a baby, you should look hard at the mom, and this one is a beauty...



Here is a nice Quaterback foal, from http://www.hannoveraner-pfer.de/

10 weeks, Quaterback X Londonderry

Same one at 4 weeks

Riley rocks ride #4 (featuring the letter R)

Things were a little rambunctious last week -- remember? Riley reacted rudely to being ridden. Rats! His rowdiness required research, reflection, and review. But this week, Riley really rallied!

I'm sorry. I'll stop with the "r" thing. It's just filler to help with formatting -- I need to have text adjacent to the picture on the right so that the video displays correctly below, and this beats Lorem Ipsum. Anyway, below is the footage of this week's session...

Riley's Ride #4, June 10, 2009

What do I love about this footage (aside from him looking just plain happy)? Riley is...

• relatively quiet in the bridle
• rythmical in the trot work
• readily halting
• relaxed
• reacting well to other riders in the ring
  

I lied about stopping. The "r"s rule! Rah Rah Riley! And Christa (whose last name begins with an "R") and Riley's trainer (whose first and last name regrettably don't start with an r).

The visit: Harv sends one of his people

This Saturday, Bob and I spent part of the morning doing yard-work and assorted tasks. While I pulled weeds, he sorted through the garage. He found

• Harvey's fan, which we take to the barn when it gets hot. He dusted it off with canned air.
• Harvey's fly sheet, which he folded and set on the fan.
• Several bottles of fly spray, which he set by the fan and sheet.

We agreed to take the stuff to the barn before it gets too hot. After a fashion we both took a break and sat on lawn chairs by the house. As we sat with our coffee, a late model Cadillac -- white, shiny, gorgeous -- turned into our court. Believe me, this kind of car is beyond unusual in our neighborhood. It passed us, turned around at the end of the court, and came back toward us. Astonishingly, it stopped in front of our house.

Without missing a beat, Bob turned to me and said:

"Oh, good, they're here."

"What?" I asked.

"Harv called -- he told me he'd send one of his people out to get his summer things."

Maybe you had to be there, but I spewed coffee, big time! The car paused in front of our house for maybe thirty seconds. I suspect they were lost. But it's fun to think of Harv having "people."

Take my advice (I'm not using it) on horse frugality

As a matter of fact, I do know some little money-saving techniques for horse owners. Unfortunately I don't use them, usually. When I try to save money, I'm troubled by what ifs, and spending the extra bit gives me peace of mind. I'm much better on saying what you should never skimp on:

• Shoeing (adding weeks between shoeings is a false economy
• Eye/eyelid injuries (call the vet NOW)
• Saddle, boots, helmet (buy the best you can afford)
• Horse purchase. Buy a bit more horse than you can really afford -- the monthly cost of a mediocre horse is the same as a great one. Don't sweat the one time costs.
  

When the financial tips are down, though, here are some cost saving tips...

Today's theme is abstinence...
It wasn't a realistic message during sex ed in high school and it may not be realistic now. But maybe there are behaviors you can abstain from, such as:

1. Impulsive vet calls. When your horse is lame, and there is no obvious injury or severe pain, wait 7 days before calling the vet. Ditto if an **abscess is suspected, even though there may be real discomfort.

MY LEARNING EXPERIENCE: As a yearling, Riley's hock swelled up for no apparent reason. Oh, no, OCD! I called the vet after 3 days. Six x-rays and $300 later, surgery was advised. A week later, I have an appointment at New Bolton. Hired a hauler ($150) and met with Dr. Dean Richardson at NB (Barbaro's doctor). He scoffed at the field x-rays and took his own, to the tune of $1000. Riley is pronounced AOK. Did I mention that by day 9 the swelling is gone, and he's sound? Total expenditure because I didn't wait: $1450. Oh, and his perfectly fine hock is now excluded by my insurance.

2. Supplements. Of the supplements you feed or want to feed, which of them ACTUALLY RESULTS IN MEASURABLE IMPROVEMENT IN ANYTHING -- soundness, hoof quality, etc.? Can you see/feel/tell a difference--really? Fine. Keep those.

As to the rest, use'em up, throw away the container, DO NOT REORDER. No matter how nice the Smartpak service rep is, you can skip the bee pollen, the vitamin C, the herb stuff that smells so nice and looks like potpourri. Really. Your horse does NOT CARE.

3. The latest new training aid. You know, like the Parelli Confidence bit that "teaches horses to have more confidence"? Or the slew of new stirrups on the market (see right)? Ask yourself, "What did they do 20 years ago?" The answer is, they did without and kept things simple. And they got results. Align yourself with the likes of Bill Steinkraus, George Morris, Reiner Klimke, etc. Go without.

Okay, now the disclaimer: Earlier this morning I bought a Nathe bit online. It's a flexible mullen mouth bit, a cable covered with gooey polymer--at least it's legal in competition. It is supposed to be good for sensitive horses. $60 plus shipping. Epic failure of frugality.

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**When a horse is showing signs of an abscess, it probably is an abscess. And if it isn't an abscess, the next most likely thing is a fracture of the coffin bone or some other bone in the hoof. According to The Horse magazine, it sometimes takes 10 days to 2 weeks for the edges of a fracture to demineralize/become defined enough to show up on an x-ray. The hoof itself serves as a cast, and so long as the horse isn't running around, waiting will not result in further damage to the fractured area.

Getting a competitive edge: Do you really want that blue?

There's an interesting thread on the hunter/jumper COTH bulletin board. Members are sharing their perceptions of what separates first from second place. Some share practical tips like

• pay attention to your corners
• always pat your horse when you're done
• untwist reins or stirrups
• wear a hairnet.

Some offer more amusing advice like "groom and primp as if you're going to be on the cover of a magazine." For more tips read the thread -- while it's hunter/jumper oriented a lot of the tips are relevant.

My favorite post in the thread
I loved this response from one of the members, who says that to gain a competitive edge...

I think about how much I adore my horse and how fabulously lucky I am to be walking
into a show ring on His Spectacularness.

His Spectacularness. Isn't that a great phrase, and a great attitude? Psychologically it's the best strategy you can have when you prepare for a show. I get nervous at shows and I have a mantra to calm myself down: I've already won. I've already won.

Yep, I've already won, but not in the sense of winning a ribbon. The big prize I've won is Harv, the best horse ever. It's all over, except that I need to make sure the judges see it too, and how hard can that be? I didn't always have a great ride, but judges loved Harvey.

Stepping back
We put ourselves under a lot of pressure to do well, and it can backfire. Yes, it's important to take it seriously. We're spending a ton of money, our performance is public, and we want to be proud of ourselves and our horses. But a sense of humor is good too. When I really mess up I imagine Harvey wearing a t-shirt that says "I'm with stupid." Fortunately, when I showed this article to Bob he reminded me Harv would never wear that. "Harvey prefers collared shirts," he told me.

You can always use another hoof pick, right?

I love the blog The Journeys of Cactus Jack Splash, and this week the blog featured a handmade hoof pick that I had to share. The picks are shown below. At just $9, they are not only sturdy and practical, but they're artistic. As the blog says, the pictures don't do the pick justice, there is a rainbow sheen that makes them seem very fancy. To top it off, the proceeds go to charity. I bought two -- take a look!

clipped from journeysofcactusjack.blogspot.com

An off scale purchase (that is not horse-related)

One of the tools of serious dieting is a good scale -- and I've had a bunch of'em. Over the weekend, my old Tanita went on the fritz. The digital numbers are fading, and replacing the batteries didn't help. That's the bad news.

The good news is, the new scales do everything but steam your carrots. An Tanita is the scale of scales, praised in Consumer Reports and generally thought of as a top consumer model based on reliability and accuracy. And as a compulsive dieter, getting three different readings in the span of five minutes is likely to give me a panic attack.

Here's a list of what the model I ordered measures (and my values in parentheses):

• weight: 124.4
• body fat (27%, or high normal)
• muscle mass (low)
• bone mass (low, confirmed by bone density tests)
• daily caloric intake (2100 calories)
• visceral fat (low)
• Metabolic age (21 -- my real age is 47)

I am so tickled with this purchase, money absolutely does by happiness, albeit temporarily. My husband was skeptical, but when I got him to stand on it and get his readings his interest really perked up. Now he's hopping on every day to check changes in his muscle mass. It's not for everyone. But if you're health conscious and like to track your fitness progress, give it a look!

Patrick or Patricia? I enjoy being a girl, dammit!

I took Wed off from work. It was a dreary day filled with mundane errands, and by 9am I at was at the Toyota dealership for an oil change. The hour spent in the waiting room felt much longer, thanks to a TV blaring Live with Regis and Kelly in one corner, and a whiny kid and her oblivious mom in the other corner. At last the Toyota guy appeared -- he stepped in the room, checked his clip board, and announced to the crowded room...

"Richard Swensen and Stacey Kimmel, your cars are ready."

I raised my hand and stood up, but no one else responded. The young man looked at the clipboard, and then at me.

"Which one are you?"

Now wait a doggone minute...

I mentally review my attire -- teal blue capris, tennis shoes, and an FEI WEG t shirt (pictured left). Admittedly my hair was blown dry but not styled.

So, what about me says something other than FEMALE? Since when could I pass for a Richard?

Well. It's happened before.
As a freshmen in college, I often went running. One bright afternoon, as I ran down the street some townies drove up behind me. A young guy leaned out the window and made cat calls. As they passed me, he look startled. Ducking back in the car I overheard him say, "Oh, I thought it was a girl." This kind of thing has happened to me, off and on, since I was in high school.

Thoughts on the matter
A partial explanation for the gender confusion (theirs, not mine!) may be that people seldom take the time to really look at one another in a typical day. And a New Jersey housewife I'm not. I don't wear makeup. I'm not classically curvaceous. But I love pink! And I do have a few girly-girly outfits. Apparently, though, I'm more guylike than I realize. Does it bother me? Well, yes, momentarily. I actually marvel that it doesn't bother me MORE.

The whole thing is more palatable when I put it in a dressage dressage context -- I'd be the first to admit I lean more toward the practical than the feminine -- on the continuum women dressage riders I'm definitely more toward the left...

Ulla Salzberger -------------------------------------------------------------------Lisa Wilcox/Katie Price







Oh, and the capris had ruffles along the bottom. Go figure!