Archive for June, 2010
Boomerang’s Bow
Last night I spent some time working with Boomerang on the ground. We worked on moving away from pressure, turn on the haunches, turn on the forehand, and sidepasses. I then thought it would be fun to see if I could get him to bow. Boomer really likes the soft screenings in our arena, and almost every time he sees it he tries to lay down in it. I knew working in a soft fluffy part of the arena would entice him to put his limbs on the ground.
I started off by just working on getting him to pick up and hold his leg up. Each time picked up a leg when I tapped it, he got clicked. Eventually I progressed to enticing his head to the ground with a treat, and pretty soon Boomer was putting his knee to the ground. This is the same method I used to teach Minnow to bow back in 2004. Minnow has a pretty nice bow when he wants to, but its tough for him to do now because of his ringbone. I think it hurts a little, so I try not to ask him to do it too often, and I’m quicker to let him offer less of an effort than I would expect from Boomer. I think with a few more sessions Boomer should have a pretty nice bow, perhaps nice enough to showcase at MGAA Nationals in a few weeks. We shall see!
Stacy Westfall – Devon Demo
Last Saturday I was able to sneak away from my barn duties and head over to the Devon Horse Show. Usually I get to Devon at least once or more during their big Hunter Show of the year. In fact, I’m headed there tonight for the Grand Prix Jumpers. I’m not really “into” hunters, although as most children have, I did compete in my fair share of leadline and hunter classes as a kid. It’s an easy way to transition into horse showing, no dressage tests to memorize, usually pretty simple jump courses and fences – pretty much just stay on and steer and you’re good. Although don’t tell anyone…I was usually the kid that fell off at all the super low (non-scary) fences. I blame it on a pony who HATED to jump, I wish someone had handed me a clicker back then, I might have avoided myself many spills. But that’s ok, it made me a better rider, and probably helped push me into DRESSAGE! 🙂
Anyway, back to Devon. My big push to go to the Devon Horse Show on Saturday was to watch STACY WESTFALL! Yes, I saw Bruce Springsteen’s daughter ride, and yes I ate funnel cake and desperately held back from purchasing a lemon stick (I don’t need anymore cavaties), but what I really went to see was the Stacey Westfall Demo.
If you have no idea who Stacy Westfall is, then you have to watch this video. If you have already seen it, then watch it again, because it’s just awesome.
This video basically made Stacy recognizable and sort of made her a household name. My mom has recently been watching a lot of Stacey’s training videos while she recovers from her knee surgery. They have her itching to get out there and keep working with her pony. I admit I haven’t had time to watch any of her videos yet, but I plan to.
So I was super excited when I saw Stacy Westfall was on the list of demos at Devon. (The demos are always the best part of Devon, and I’m not just saying the because I’ve ridden in several demos there over the years). The best part is she actually brought her mare from the previous video, Roxy. She explained that Roxy is coming out of retirement so that she can be in the opening ceremonies at the World Equestrian Games this year. Pretty cool. Anyway, check out the videos I took below – unfortunately my camera died near the end of the second one, but I don’t think much was missed.
I was bummed we couldn’t watch Roxy do a sliding stop, maybe next time! And you totally know you were that kid that wanted to ride the Black Stallion…I know I was!
