Why They Call ‘Em Show Miles.. February 18, 2008

This weekend we were at the Triangle Farms Show.  You probably remember this is my favorite show.  Kids that may not go to other shows will be at the Triangle Farms show so it is a good time to catch up with my friends. 

 

You may remember an earlier post that talked about my “A” trainer wanting me to do as many local “C” shows as I could this year so that I could get “show miles”.  I really did not understand what they meant by “show miles” until this weekend.  Last season every show I was mostly worried about whether Skittles would behave or worried about how to get him around the course or through a flat class.  This season is proving to be very different.  Skittles has been like an old show pony.  At the show this weekend I could not think of one thing he did wrong.  He was a perfect little pony for me.  Any mistakes made at this show were what my mom calls “rider error”. 

 

On Saturday, we arrived early and as usual my mom registered me for my classes and got Skittles ready for me to hack.  We did some riding around and then we untacked him.  While my mom was cleaning him up I went to the indoor arena and asked Kip Broadfoot (my favorite announcer)  how many more rounds until my division.  He told me we had several hours.  I then went and found the Trademark Stables kids to hang out some.  My mom spent the time braiding Skittles mane, forelock, and tail.  We thought we would be having our classes in the indoor arena but at the last minute we were changed to the outdoor covered arena.  It is a much smaller ring.  During the schooling break one of my friends fell off her pony.  We all stopped and waited to make sure she was alright.  She was o.k. but decided not to show.  I have fallen off before and knew how she felt.  There were eight riders in the division Saturday.  The equitation on the flat class started off great.  My mom said my equitation looked great but near the end of the class I made my first “rider error”.  I tried to pass a pony by going between the wall and the pony.  I got too close to the pony who pinned her ears back and tried to bite Skittles.  Of course, Skittles got very upset and threw his head up and tried to race down the wall next to the pony.  The announcer told everyone to walk and it took a lot of pulling to get Skittles to stop and settle down.  I knew I made a mistake and did not think I would pin in the class but surprisingly I got a third.  However, after that incident Skittles was really rattled.  We had to hand off our ribbons and go right back to the under saddle class.  I was nervous and I know Skittles could tell so he was a bit faster than normal at the canter.  I thought I would try to slow him down by pulling him back instead of using my voice and saying whoa.  Well he thought I wanted him to trot and broke the canter to a trot and I became so anxious to get him back to the canter I just asked for it without organizing and he picked up the wrong lead right in front of the judge!  Of course, we did not pin in that class.  We did not do a warmup round.  Jennifer and Rex took me down to the schooling area to practice and calm down.  After a few minutes Skittles and I were back to normal and went in for our equitation over fences class.  We had a great round and we took first.  Our two hunter over fences rounds were really great as well.  We took first in our second hunter round and sixth in our first round.  Neither Rex and Jennifer nor my mom could figure out why we took sixth in the one class.  In the end we chalked it up to that is how it is in the horse show ring.  The day was over and I was glad to go home to get ready for the next day.

 

On Sunday when we woke up it was raining.  My mom and dad worried about how we would stay dry.  We trailer into the shows and do not rent stalls.  My dad came up with a great idea.  He remembered that the show grounds has some large covered areas that they set up temporary stalls during big “A” shows and suggested that we pull the trailer right under there and park.  That is what we did and it was great!  My mom braided Skittles mane again and got him ready while I went and found my friends.  One of my favorite friends, Olivia, was at the show.  She was going to show against me in my division riding Mr. Razzle Dazzle.  You might rememer I took some lessons on Mr. Razzle Dazzle to learn how to ask for a lead change.  Things moved faster on Sunday and our division was moved into the indoor arena.  I really love showing in the indoor because it is so big and there is a lot of room.  We started with our flat classes.  My pony was like a little star.  We pinned first in our equitation on the flat and first in our under saddle class.  My mom sat in the stands and later said I did a good job giving him a looser rein so he could relax and drop his head.  We have decided not to do the warm up rounds with Skittles for a while.  He seems to get bored by the last round when we add the warmup but today we did not get a schooling break and Jennifer thought it would be best to do the warm up so that he could get a good look around the ring.  I ride my own pony in the warm up round but sometimes it is allowed for an older kid or a trainer to ride the ponies for the students to “set them up”.   Our first rounds were very good.  Skittle was perfect.  I did simple lead changes as we are still not ready to try to do flying changes at the shows.  We got first in our equitation over fences class and a second in our hunter over fences class.  My friend Olivia got first on Mr. Razzle Dazzle.  By the second hunter round Skittles seemed a little tired and bored.  Our round started off really good until the last outside line.  As we made the turn away from the gate he started to get really slow and broke into a trot.  I quickly got him back to the canter.  He went down the line fine but I was still thinking of him trotting and forgot to check my lead.  He was on the wrong lead and I did not fix it.  We took fifth in the class.  We still took reserve champion and my friend Olivia took champion.  We were both happy for each other!  We said goodbye to everyone and got home before it got dark.  My friend Allison was at the barn and was riding her old western horse.  While my mom was wrapping Skittles’ legs I got on with Allison and we got to ride around together.  It was a lot of fun. 

 

Now that the weekend is over I was able to talk to my mom about my classes.  Now I understand what “show miles” are for.  I was able to tell my mom all the errors I made and now I will be able to make sure I do not make the mistakes again.  My mom said I do a lot of things right for an eight year old and that the little mistakes I made will work themselves out with experience.  I guess that is what the show miles are all about.

Bennett Bunn Plantation February 12, 2008

Well the first Bennett Bunn Plantation show is over and it was a lot of fun!  Bennett Bunn Plantation is  a historical home site.  While I was waiting for my classes my brother and I actually visited the grave site of Mr. Bennett Bunn.  He really was a real person!  There are really big fields of grass and plenty of room to park.  We parked on the grass under a tree.  It was a great day to show.  It was very sunny and warm.  Ashley and my brothers George and Riley went with us.  We got there early on Saturday so that we would have time to school in the schooling ring at lunch break.  While we were waiting I got to walk around and see who was at the show that I know.  My brother Riley found his friends and started to play football.  I found a couple of girls I know and went over to say hello.  My dad and I went over to see the farm animals on the property.  They had my favorite barn animals…. donkeys!!  I love mini donkeys.  They are so cute and I think they sound so funny.  Skittles also thought they sounded funny.  Every time he heard them he started to whinny and act like he was scared.  I took him over to see them but he started to act really nervous and so I took him back to the trailer.  We also got to see Bennett Bunn Plantations newest edition… Mikey the new foal.  Mikey was born on Monday before the horse show.  He was really tiny and kept hiding next to his mother. 

The day turned out to be very long.  We arrived at 9:00 a.m. but my classes did not start until around 5:30.  We did not leave the show until about 7 p.m.  Because the day was short and we had been waiting so long my mom and I decided not to do the warm up round.  As it turned out only one person did the warm up round.  The management told us to do the over fences classes first so that we could finish before it became too dark.  Skittles was really good.  My mom told me to do simple lead changes in my rounds.  We had no problem.  I worked hard to keep straight lines and take one trot step and then back into the canter on the correct lead.  Jennifer Lafforthun was there with her partner Rex O’Brien.  Jennifer told Rex to help me.  He reminded me not to let Skittles drift to the right on my outside line and he told me how many strides to get in my lines.  After our over fences classes we did the flat classes but guess what… it was dark!  How was the judge going to see us?  As I was waiting in the ring for the class to start I saw a bunch of cars coming towards the ring.  One by one they started to line up around the ring and turn on the lights!  How smart was that?  The whole ring had light and we were able to have our classes.  It was the funniest thing I have ever seen at a show before.  After waiting all day I was just glad our classes were not cancelled.  I felt like a star riding around in the spot lights like that!  Over all it was a great day for us.  We were Reserve Champion and won both of our equitation classes.  When we were done and I took Skittles to the trailer I gave him a handful of treats.  I know he was glad to get home.  I was very tired and could not wait to snuggle in my bed. 

 

Pictures Of The Day

 

On Monday I went to the barn and worked with my mom and  Ashley helped out also.  She is so sweet to help me and my mom out just because I keep my pony at her barn.  She showed me again how she has been getting flying lead changes on Skittles and helped me work on keeping him straight and then asking for the change.  He actually got clean changes a couple of times.  I was very proud of us.  My mom started cheering.  Pretty soon we will be able to show off our flying changes at the shows.  This week we will be getting ready for the two day show at Triangle Farms this weekend.  Ashley plans to take Skittles to the show on Friday and show him in some classes.  She likes riding Skittles just like I do.  She says she learns a lot about training by getting to ride Skittles sometimes.  Saturday and Sunday I will be showing.  My mom has been practicing braiding Skittles’ mane since very soon we will have to braid for all shows.  Braiding can be very expensive so my mom plans to do all the braiding for us.  She will be braiding Skittles for the show this weekend.  Check back for updates!

The Last Of Warm Winter Days! February 7, 2008

Back to the cold this week but before the warm days  go I wanted to share…

 

In my head I hear a humming:
Summer, summer, summer’s coming!!!!

We Can’t Wait!

 

It’s That Time Of Year Again! February 5, 2008

 

Welcome Back!!

 

This weekend was a big break from the cold weather we have been having in North Carolina.  It has been in the upper sixties and lower seventies.  Saturday we made our trip to Solo Show Stables to see Jenn Johnston and Harold Chopping.  There was a lot going on at Solo.  When we pulled up the first thing I noticed were the RV campers and all the cars in the driveway.  Everyone was all a buzz about leaving to Florida to horse show.  They will be leaving this week and driving down the horses and tack.  They will not be back until the middle of March.  I cannot imagine what it is like to horse show for six weeks straight.  I could tell they had been packing tack trunks and getting horses ready.  It was a very exciting feeling around the barn.  I think even the horses might have been feeling the excitment as several of them started running around and bucking while we were unloading skittles and getting ready.   The Florida show scene is a very important start to the show season and all the big riders will be there.  Next year if I do not show in Florida my mom said we can take a break and go down for a weekend so I can see all the fancy ponies and horses.  We would even get to fly on an airplane.    That is my kind of vacation!

In Saturday’s lesson we worked on a lot of the usual stuff including not leaning towards the jumps and keeping my eyes up at all times.  Skittles was very lazy on Saturday.  He was so slow I started “clucking” at him.  Jenn kept telling me not to cluck and I could tell it was getting on her nerves.  She is very sweet and told me if I feel the need to cluck that means I should put my leg on the pony to encourage him to move forward.  I am usually worried about keeping him from moving too fast so it was a different kind of day for me.  When we were all done I was very tired and Jenn told my mom and dad that this lesson was the best so far.  While she is gone I will be working on seeing my leads and lead changes.  I will also keep working on no stirrup work and improving my equitation. 

 

Me and Skittles Warming Up

 

Watch a Full Course

 

 

Sunday was another wonderful and warm day so I took the oppurtunity to spend some time with Skittles.  Sometimes I am so focused on working in the ring I forget about how much fun I have just spending time with him.  I took him out treats and we went for a walk.  All he really cared about was eating his treats and grass.   When we spend time together like that I really think about how lucky I am to have a pony.  Skittles is my best friend.

 

Monday I had a great day at school but I am always excited when I see my mom because I know we are going to the barn.  I took Skittles a special treat today.  His favorite snack in the world is carrots.  He would do anything for them!  Ashley was around and helped me work some on simple lead changes and my jumping position.  She reminded me to keep my eyes up.  Monday was my last day to practice before the show at Bennett Bunn Plantation on Saturday.  Bennett Bunn is a one day show and is close to where I live.  We are excited that it should be warm and sunny.   My dad is planning the horse show menu.  I hope we get to have hotdogs!  Please check back and see how we do at the show this weekend!  

 

You Can Email Us!!

savannahandskittles@yahoo.com

About This Weekend… January 29, 2008

My mom and I have been very busy but we finally had time last night to sit and talk about what we did this weekend.  The Triangle Farms show is one of our favorites.  This show was the first show we have shipped Skittles in instead of renting a stall for the weekend.  My mom picked me up on Friday after school and we went out to the barn to get ready for the show.  I only had about thirty minutes to ride before it got too dark.  I was able to practice my equitation and jump a couple of jumps.  In the winter I do not get a lot of practice because it gets dark but in the sping and summer I actually have lessons on Friday nights before the shows. 

 After my ride my mom had to wash the pony.  It was about thirty degrees outside so instead of giving him a full bath my mom decided to soak hot towels in shampoo and scrub him that way.  He HATES getting clean.  He stomped his feet and put his ears back.  I think he does not really like my mom.  Once we had him cleaned we put three blankets on him so he would stay warm as he dried.  Ponies have wiskers  on their face so we have to shave around his nose and mouth before shows and he tries to eat the razor.  All of these things have to be done so he stands out in the show ring.  While my mom worked with Skittles I had to clean my saddle and bridle.  After we clean everything we have to pack our show trunk with everything we will need.  My mom has a list she uses.  She calls out to me what I need and I make sure it is in the trunk or ready to put on the trailer early the next morning.  The last thing we do is wrap bandages around Skittles legs.  Then we put him in his stall and hope he stays clean. 

On Saturday and Sunday morning I had to get up at 6:30 a.m. to get ready for the show.  My dad is in charge of packing food for us to eat at the show and my mom makes sure I have all of my clothes packed.  Once we get to the show I find my trainer and tell her I am there.  We usually have to lunge Skittles to make sure he is not fresh when he gets off the trailer.  Lunging is done with a very long rope.  Skittles trots and canters around in a circle while attached to the rope.  After that I usually ride him in the warm up area so he can get familiar with everything around him.  Once I finish riding my mom and I usually go and watch the other divisions and check to see how all of my friends are doing.  When it is almost time for my classes I get dressed in my show clothes.  Saturday was a good day.  We got to show in the big arena which is very exciting.  Skittles and I won our equitation over fences class and the warmup class.  We got a second in our equitation on the flat class.  Flat classes are ones that we do not jump.  We got a second and third place in our other jumping classes.  That is really good.  I was very proud of Skittles and my coaches told me they thought we were great. 

Me, Ashley, and George

 

 

On Sunday my brother and Ashley went to the show with us.  Ashley was anxious to see how Skittles would do.  She rode him three times this week and last week to get him ready for me to show.  I had another really great surprise!  My best freind McKenzie and her father also came out to the show grounds to hang out with us.  McKenzie does not ride but loves horses and ponies so she helped me brush Skittles and get him ready.  When it was time for me to show they were all there to cheer for me.  We did alright on Sunday.  I took a first place in my equitation on the flat class but when it was time for my equitation over fences I made a little boo boo.  I asked Skittles for a lead change and missed it.  I tried to get him to do it again and he did but he was already too close to the jump and missed the jump altogether.  I was able to get him to circle and go over it the second time but it was too late and we did not get a ribbon.  My other over fences went well and I got good ribbons in those classes.  Skittles was very good. 

Me and my best friend McKenzie

 

When we were done my trainers patted Skittles and told me I rode him very well.  We packed up all of our things and loaded Skittles on the trailer.  Before I left my trainer Jennifer asked me to take a picture with the other kids and all of our ribbons.  After we all said goodbye we took Skittles home and got him settled in.  I was very tired and fell asleep on the drive home.  My mom and dad picked me up and put me in my bed at home without me even waking up.  I did not wake up until Monday morning when it was time for school.  Of course, after school on Monday I have to go to the barn and practice.  I worked on seeing my leads correctly and no stirrups. 

This Saturday I will be going to Jenn Johnston for a lesson.  I have not seen Jenn for a couple of weeks and cannot wait to tell her how well Skittles did at the show.  Ashley is going to go with us so she can ride with Jenn as well.  I cannot wait! 

Five Day Count Down… January 21, 2008

Well we are five days from the first Triangle Farms show of the season.  With temperatures in the low thirties for highs we are finding little time to practice.  Sunday the ground never thawed and today the high was 35 degrees.  Even though it was cold I knew I had to practice today.  It was my last day to practice before Saturday.  I got to ride for about twenty minutes, mainly working on flat work, before my mom started to complain about how cold it was.  Skittles was a little bit fresh today, probably because of the cold, so we mainly worked over poles on the ground instead of jumps.  When we were done my hands and cheeks were red.  I made sure Skittles had two blankets on him for tonight and tucked him in his stall for the night.  Ashley will ride him three times this week so he will be ready for me to show.  Showing in the winter is always hard because the days are so short that it is hard to find time to get to the barn and ride.  That is why my mom and I are so thankful to Ashley.  We cannot get him to a professional trainer every week so it helps to have a friend who loves to ride and helps us out.  Friday night we will be at the barn getting ready for the show and packing.  My mom told me it is going to rain Saturday and Sunday but since the Triangle Farms show is indoors it will not be cancelled.  Check back to hear about our show weekend and to see new photos and videos. 

Where is Skittles??? January 11, 2008

Yesterday I went to my trainer Jennifer’s farm to take a lesson on one of her ponies.  It was a wonderful day to ride.  The weather was just right.  It was very warm and sunny for a January day.  I go to school during the week but sometimes my mother takes me with her to her job and schedules a lesson for me with Jennifer during her lunch break.  Since I am homeschooled my schedule is more flexible than other kids I ride with and Jennifer’s farm is very close to my mom’s office.   

Yesterday I got to ride a pony named Mr. Razzle Dazzle.  He is an old pony but when he was younger he won many championships and taught a lot of children how to ride and horse show.  Mr. Razzle Dazzle is a large pony which means he is bigger than Skittles. I have been learning how to ask for lead changes on Mr. Razzle Dazzle.  Yesterday I also worked on cantering and dropping my stirrups and then picking them back up without stopping or slowing down.  Jennifer said this is important to practice in case I am every in a show and lose a stirrup.  I should be able to pick it back up without the judge ever knowing I dropped it. 

 CLICK HERE TO SEE MR. RAZZLE DAZZLE AND ME

www.andielane.com/horsey.htm

 

 

While I was at my lesson with Jennifer Skittles was having a lesson also.  Since I am not there when Ashley rides him I like to hear how Skittles did from Ashley.   She tells me what she worked on and then always says he was a good boy.   

 

Ashley Riding Skittles

 

 Skittles and I will be going to see Jennifer in Apex NC on Sunday for a lesson.  Jennifer is our side line coach at the NCHJA “C” shows and this will be my last time to work with her before the first show of the season on the 19th.  Check back to see how it goes. 

 

Practice Makes Perfect! January 8, 2008

Practice Practice Practice! 

 

 

After my lesson on Saturday in Southern Pines I spent several hours on Sunday working with Skittles and my mom. Skittles is considered a “green” pony. Green ponies are usually in their first or second year of training or schooling. Skittles has school just like I do.  Sometimes he goes to the trainer for “real” training and sometimes he has classes with Ashley every Wednesday and Thursday.  She exercises him for me and he learns a lot because she is a good rider.  Ponies have to learn a lot to become real horse show ponies.

Lately his lessons have been working on flying lead changes. Lead changes feel kind of like your pony is skipping. Lead changes are important because they help keep your pony balanced. If your pony is on the wrong lead at a horse show it is considered a fault. Because my pony did not know how to do lead changes I had to ride other ponies at my trainers farm so I could learn. While I was learning on other ponies Ashley was teaching Skittles while she rides him. Now we are ready to work on lead changes together.

On Monday I did what I do every Monday. I have school during the day and then go to the barn to practice. I usually get home at about 6:30 p.m. and then I have to take a bath and do my homework.  I am always sad when I leave the barn on Monday nights because I know I will not see Skittles again until Friday during the winter.  I always try and spend some extra time with him and give him some extra love and treats!  I wish I could just live with Skittles and Ride, Ride, Ride every day! Check back for more updates, photos, and videos that are coming soon!

 

Yesterday In Southern Pines January 6, 2008

 

 

A Horse Show Kids day starts at 6 a.m. … 

 

Yesterday was my trip to Southern Pines for my lesson. It takes about two hours to get to Solo Show Stables where Jenn Johnston teaches me two times a month. Jenn works with Harold Chopping who has represented the Canadian Equestrian team in many Nation’s Cups. He has competed in three World Cup Finals and was an alternate for the Barcelona Olymic Games. It is really special for a kid my age to ride with such highly respected trainers. My mom says a good education is worth the two hour drive.

Sometimes when I see Harold around the barn and he speaks to me I get really nervous. Yesterday it took a whole minute for me to say hello when he spoke to me. I guess it is because he is really famous. I think he thought it was funny! Before I became a student at Solo a friend of my family got an autographed picture for me that I keep in my scrapbook.

Yesterday’s lesson was really awesome! Skittles was very well behaved. I was worried he would be difficult because it was very cold and windy. Some ponies get “fresh” on cold and windy days. When Skittles is fresh he gets excited and hyper and sometimes does not listen to me. We always start every lesson with flat work. That means we work on skills other than jumping. While we were trotting Jenn told me to drop my stirrups. I was surprised she told me to do that because she has never asked me to do that in other lessons. I was glad I had worked at home this week a few times with no stirrups. I got tired really fast. It is hard to ride and balance without stirrups. It takes a lot of leg muscle to hold yourself in the saddle. When I could not go any longer Jenn told me I could stop and told me one day I will have to take entire lessons with no stirrups!

The rest of the lesson we worked very hard on me sitting up tall and down in the saddle all the way to the jump and not leaning forward. It is important not to lean at the jump because the pony may refuse the jump and you could fall over his neck. If I lean at the jumps Skittles takes off at the wrong time and I get thrown back in the saddle. I do not like that so I try very hard to sit tall.

Jenn told my mom I did very well and that she thinks I will be ready for the Short Stirrup division by the time she returns from Florida in the early spring. Jenn and Harold go to the really big shows in the winter in Florida. All of the big riders and barns spend their winters showing in Florida. I am very excited that I may be ready to show with Harold and Jenn this year!

Jenn told my mom this week I should work on seeing my leads and knowing when I need to change my lead and a lot of practice with no stirrups. She always gives me “assignments” to work on in between lessons. I call it my “horsie homework”! We will not see Jenn again until January 20th, the day after my first horse show. I hope I have good news to tell her when I see her again!

Today I am working with Skittles and the junior rider that rides him. She will be showing me what she has been doing with him this week. Her name is Ashley. Skittles lives at her farm. I would like for him to live at my house but we do not have the land big enough or a ring for riding. Ashley and her family take very good care of Skittles and he has friends at their farm. She has been helping him with flying lead changes this week. Check back to find out about today’s ride!

 

See Video of my day…

 

 

 

Meet Savannah and Skittles January 3, 2008

 

My name is Savannah Strawbridge, and I’m 8 years old. I started riding when I was six years old. My pony’s name is Skittles. Skittles and I have been training together for over a year. You could say I’m horse show CRAZY!

We take at least one lesson a week with one of my trainers. When we’re not in lessons we practice three or four times a week. I work with two different trainers. One of my trainers is about 30 minutes from my house. Her name is Jennifer. My other trainer is two hours from where we live. Her name is Jenn and we see her two times a month. I am lucky to get lots of help with my riding. Skittles also gets help from a junior rider who rides him for me during the week when I’m in school.

I am a member of the North Carolina Hunter Jumper Association. They host many horse shows all year. The Show season starts in January, so I have been really busy getting ready for my first show this year. The first show is Bennet Bunn and is on the 19th. I am so excited!

Tomorrow my mom and I will be up at 6:00 am getting ready to leave to Southern Pines NC to see my trainer Jenn. We will take Skittles on the trailer for a lesson. Tomorrow I hope Jenn will see that I have been practicing very hard this week.